Keeping cyber attacks at bay
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
Chinese media say Fonterra’s two directors on its joint venture, Beingmate have expressed reservations about a new independent director approved by the board recently.
Fonterra Chinese operations head and Beingmate director Christina Zhu is quoted saying the outgoing director Liu Xiaosong had extensive experience in financial accounting and internal control.
He played an important role in corporate governance and internal auditing as the audit committee chairman.
“The company is currently faced with many complex financial, internal control and accounting issues, and has been repeatedly concerned about inquiries by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Authority.
“The company is also in a difficult business environment and faces many challenges. Therefore, it is urgent to have a person with rich financial and accounting experience – an independent director with an internal control background and experience in corporate management and/or financial accounting practices to succeed Mr Liu Xiaosong.”
The reports said that while new director Ma Juan is well educated and has an academic background, she does not have a professional accounting background or knowledge and financial audit experience.
“The Beingmate company is facing a lot of financial and internal control issues, and the independent director will also serve as a member of the audit committee.
“Although Ms Ma Juan has the qualifications for a single director, she is not suitable at this time as a candidate to replace Liu Xiaosong.”
Zhu and Priem recommended another candidate for the board but that person did not succeed.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.