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.
ENTRIES IN THE 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are running neck-and-neck with last year.
National convenor Chris Keeping says 251 entries have been received in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions compared with 248 entries at the same time last year.
"We're about three weeks in and it is amazing how close the numbers are – it definitely indicates we are on target to reach or even better last year's record 566 entry numbers."
Keeping says people have about one week left to enter and be eligible for the Early Bird Entry Prize Draw of three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes, each valued at $4000. One bike will be drawn from those that enter early (before December 1) in each competition.
All entries are being accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz and close on December 20.
The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1, Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO (formerly AgITO).
Of the entries received to date, the dairy trainee contest is proving the most popular with 132 entries received. The farm manager contest has received 78 entries and the sharemilker/equity farmer contest has 41 entries.
"Obviously we'd like to see some more entries in the prestigious sharemilker/equity farmer contest which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2014. We recognise there is much more work to do to enter the sharemilker contest than the trainee contest, but know the benefits to all who enter make it worth the while."
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand's trade interests are best served in a world where trade flows freely.
New Zealand's red meat sector says it is disappointed by the United States' decision to impose tariffs on New Zealand exports.