Open Country unveils major expansion plan
Confirming its "immense faith" in the dairy industry, the country's second largest milk processor is embarking on a significant investment programme.
New Zealand’s second largest milk processor, Open Country Dairy has appointed a new chief executive.
Mark de Lautour takes over on April 1. He replaces Steve Koekemoer, who becomes the new chief operating officer of Talley’s Group, the parent company of Open Country and meat processor Affco.
De Lautour is presently general manager sales and marketing at Affco.
Koekemoer will still play a key role in Open Country operations. He joins the milk processor’s board as executive director.
“This has been planned and prepared for some time to ensure a smooth transition for the business,” he says.
“As part of my new role, I will join the board of Open Country as an executive director and continue to support the business through the change and going forward. Open Country’s team is very strong and I expect great things in future.”
Open Country operates four milk plants - in Waharoa, Horotiu, Wanganui and Awarua.
Movement controls have been lifted from Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove Farm in Otago, after the successful eradication of H7N6 strain of high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Harvesting is underway of one of New Zealand’s rarest and most unusual fruit - persimmons.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.