increase font size
In the biggest decision for Fonterra Cooperative shareholders since Fonterra was formed eleven years ago, voting packs that will define its future started arriving in the post yesterday.
"I cannot emphasise how important this vote is," says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson.
"It would be incomprehensible to me if any shareholder did not vote. This is our cooperative and whether you are pro, anti or indifferent to Trading Among Farmers (TAF), we've got too much tied up in Fonterra to just shrug our shoulders.
"Ever since our Dairy Council in February resolved to ask the Board for a second vote on TAF, it's no secret Federated Farmers has enjoyed some frank discussions with Fonterra.
"We congratulate the Board for realising a second vote was needed to take the cooperative forward. Being for dairy farmers by dairy farmers, Federated Farmers will continue to ask what needs to be asked.
"The pack itself provides a lot of information so don't for heaven's sake chuck it onto the filing pile. Open it and start reading it. Talk to your neighbours, talk to Fonterra, the Shareholder's council or us. If you have any burning questions ring a Director.
"There will also be something like 50 farmer meetings in the next few weeks so get to one.
"Federated Farmers intends to bookend those meetings with ones of our own involving either Fonterra Directors, Shareholders' Council members or from Fonterra's management.
"We want to ensure our members are informed to make the right call but we'd actively encourage all shareholders to club together in groups to discuss and debate what's now before them.
"While the TAF vote will be a majority one, the Board well knows it needs a decisive shareholder mandate. There's no half-way house here as any yes vote will need to jump through a 75 percent hurdle to pass constitutional changes.
"When it comes to voting all options are available to us including post, fax or online. You can even appoint a proxy but the key date for any of these options to be exercised, is to have it done or returned by no later than 1030 am on Saturday, 23 June.
"Failing that the only other way to vote will be at one of eight special meeting venues on Monday 25 June at 1030 am.
"I can honestly say the future of Fonterra is totally within our hands," Mr Leferink concluded.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.
OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
Fonterra says favourable weather conditions supporting pasture growth is boosting milk production.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.
OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…
