Top dairy CEO quits
Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)
Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products has been registered as an Essential Service and is processing milk.
It says operational staff at its Hokitika and Rolleston plants are operating under strict New Zealand Government guidelines to keep themselves and the community safe.
Westland chief executive Toni Brendish said all staff essential to manufacturing and distribution were now working on Westland premises with the rest of the staff working from home.
Staff required to travel to work had been issued with authorised letters confirming their employment within an Essential Service to show to authorities.
Brendish said Westland’s partners and employees all along its supply chain, such as farmers, tanker drivers, manufacturing and distribution employees, were all working under strict guidance from the Government on social distancing and safety rules.
“We’re extremely grateful of the recognition we have received from all our employees and business partners of the need to keep essential services such as food production operating as efficiently and safely as possible,’’ Brendish said.
“The work they have been doing to support each other and the community has been outstanding.’’
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.
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