Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
OPINION: Your old mate suggests with the way things are currently going and record milk prices, the shiny suits at Fonterra should be the last people in need of a government subsidy.
However, it appears the brains trust at Gumboot castle (Fonterra HQ) seem only too happy to take advantage of the current Government's folly and generosity with the taxpayers' chequebook.
This comes in the wake of news that the dairy co-op put its hand out for some of the $6.5 million in taxpayer funding for electric vehicles the Government is dishing out.
Apparently, Fonterra is using the 'subsidy' to trial a 46 tonne electric milk tanker at its Waitoa milk plant.
One would have thought that if an independent, future-thinking, industry-leading company like Fonterra thought that electric milk tankers were really the way of the future, they'd pay for it themselves.
But then again, who is going to turn down free money?
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.