Thursday, 31 March 2016 07:55

Corporate farmers scoff ‘rumours’

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Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen

The owners of one of New Zealand's largest dairy operations, the Van Leeuwen Dairy Group, say the operation is alive and well.

Adriaan and Wilma van Leeuwen told Dairy News by email from overseas that the South Canterbury business is not in receivership, as rumoured.

They also had heard this rumour, on RNZ National radio, but say it is "false". The group has 12 holdings and 12,000 dairy cows, and is the world's largest robotic milking farm. Last year it expanded by installing 24 Lely robots in three barns of 500 cows each.

Adriaan and Wilma also made the Rich List last year with wealth estimated at $65 million.

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