Herd production performance soars
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
North Otago farmer Matt Ross has been elected to the LIC board for a four-year term.
Ross will replace retiring long-standing director Alvin Reid on June 1. He was one of two directors recently elected; the chairman, Nelson farmer Murray King, was re-elected.
Ross and his wife Julie farm 580ha, milking 1800 cows in the Waitaki Valley inland from Oamaru. The couple won the NZ Sharemilker of the Year title in 2007.
Ross started with LIC in 1995 as an AB technician. He has a B.App.Sc. (Ag) degree from Massey University.
He has been a director of Irrigation NZ and chair of the Maerewenua District Water Resource Co. He is a member of the Dairy Environmental Leaders Forum and a graduate of the Fonterra governance development programme.
King, who will continue as chair, says the election result provides a balance of freshness and continuity for the board.
“Matt’s appointment is an acknowledgement of his professional and farming expertise. I am honoured to be re-elected and to finish the work we have started at LIC.
“Over a year ago we set out to create a more sustainable future for LIC and we are now in the middle of implementing significant changes to achieve this.
“Ultimately everything we do at LIC is for our NZ farmers and that will continue.”
King thanked Reid for his contribution to LIC and to the dairy industry.
“Alvin has been a hard working and dedicated director always acting in the best interests of dairy farmers. He has not been afraid to challenge boundaries and has been instrumental in many technology advancements we now take for granted.”
The LIC board has seven farmer-elected directors and three appointed independent directors.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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