Coutts appointed chair-elect of Mainland Group
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
FONTERRA SHAREHOLDERS Council says it backs the co-op's decision to pay a lower milk price last year than the price calculated in accordance with the milk price manual.
The co-op paid 53c/kgMS less than what was calculated in accordance with the panel.
Despite being short-paid, Fonterra farmers received a record payout of $8.40/kgMS.
Speaking at the co-op's annual meeting in Palmerston North yesterday, council chairman Ian Brown says it was the right decision.
"The council questioned the rationale for and the effect of the board's decision and after discussions with the board and management we are satisfied with the explanation for this," he says.
"The council's view is that borrowing money to distribute revenue that was not earned in order to meet the milk price panel's recommendation would not have been in the best interest of our farmers.
"The milk price is of such importance to our farmers that any movement away from the price outlined by the manual, positive or negative, must be scrutinised and the board must be very clear in their justification for any change."
He noted that the farmgate milk price provides farmers with an accurate signal from which to make decisions around on-farm production and cost.
It also drives the co-op management to work to ensure the maximum sustainable payout to farmers is realised, he adds.
"The council has the utmost confidence in the manual and believe it is robust and transparent," Brown says.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
Afimilk, a global dairy farm management solutions provider, has appointed Justin Miller as the new general manager for New Zealand and Australia.
OPINION: Is it the beginning of the end for Greenpeace?
OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.