Rural Mobile Coverage Worse After 3G Shutdown, Survey Finds
Mobile phone coverage and reliability are deteriorating in rural areas, and farming families are bearing the cost, according to a Federated Farmers survey.
Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink is saddened by Colin Armer's exit from Fonterra board.
"It was a shock," says Leferink.
"It is sad Colin won't see out his term to November's annual general meeting. I thought Colin would have stuck with it for the next three or so months."
Leferink says Armer's departure means the board is losing some genuine institutional knowledge.
"It seems to be going from a blended board of new blood and older hands, to a board where there will be a number of reasonably fresh directors.
"That's not a criticism of the new directors, but experience needs to be retained in a blended board.
"It is all the more reason why Fonterra needs a deputy chair."
Good medium to long term prospects for NZ beef, especially in the US, has heighted the focus on various initiatives to capitalise on this situation.
High country stations, mixed sheep and beef farms, Māori-owned farms, corporates and family operations are among the nine commercial farms taking part in the Livestock Innovation Farming Transformation programme, known as LIFT.
OPINION: New health and safety guidance unveiled by the Government recently provides farmers greater certainty about what is expected of them when managing risks on farm.
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) is seeking public feedback on proposed changes to the Code of Welfare for Rodeos.
A New Zealand initiative supporting farmers to restore the health of grazing landscapes has received international backing through the Regenerative Fund for Nature, a global collaborative fund supporting regenerative agriculture and the communities that produce natural fibres for the fashion industry.
Combine premium New Zealand products, blend in a family ritual and what do you get? A world-class functional drink.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.