Fonterra trims board size
Fonterra’s board has been reduced to nine - comprising six farmer-elected and three appointed directors.
Fonterra shareholders are being urged to vote in the director elections where two incumbent directors are unopposed in their bid for re-election.
Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson wants shareholders to realise that it is still very important to vote and give a clear mandate in the director election.
Stevenson says the council strongly encourages Fonterra shareholders to participate in the voting process.
“The ability to vote farmer-elected directors onto the board is a key part of maintaining democratic member control within our co-operative,” he told Dairy News.
“Whether you are a big farm or a small farm, your votes do count. Data shows that just under one third of votes are held by shareholders who supply up to 150,000 kgMS backed by shares, just under one third by shareholders who supply over 300,000 kgMS backed by shares, and the remainder by shareholders supplying between 150,000 - 300,000 kgMS backed by shares.”
Director candidates have been meeting with farmers across the country and online recently. A video of the online meeting is available for Fonterra farmers on the Fonterra Farm Source website.
Stevenson says eligible shareholders should now have received their voting packs. If they have not, they should contact the returning officer at Electionz, Warwick Lampp.
Stevenson says apart from the director elections, there are also important resolutions for shareholders to vote on. This includes the board’s proposal to reduce the board size from 11 to 9. The council is supporting the board proposal.
He says the board has consulted council on the proposal.
“Following this and further discussions, council was supportive of the board’s rationale and has voted to support the proposal.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.