Divestment means Fonterra can focus on its strengths
OPINION: Fonterra's board has certainly presented us, as shareholders, with a major issue to consider.
FEDERATED FARMERS says Fonterra's recall of fresh cream shows its quality assurance systems work.
Fonterra initiated a voluntary recall of certain batches 300ml and 500ml bottles of Anchor and Pams fresh cream, sold in the upper North Island with a best-before date of January 21.
"While the timing is far from ideal given what went on last year, this is a voluntary recall initiated by Fonterra's own testing," says Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers Dairy chairperson.
"I hope it shows our consumers that a company owned by thousands of Kiwi farmers does put food safety first. It should also tell our consumers that when a Fonterra owned brand is on the shelf, someone back at Fonterra is testing it to ensure it remains safe to consume.
"When testing does find a problem then no matter what the product is, or the timing, a voluntary recall is completely justified.
"It also shows that traceability is working because the coop has zeroed in on the batches involved and locations they were sold in.
"I must say this is a fairly rare event for the cooperative but does generate a lot of media once Fonterra's name is invoked. The key thing I hope gets reported is that Fonterra's own testing led to this voluntary recall.
"To me that shows the coop is a responsive and responsible processor of food," Leferink says.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.