Winston Peters calls Fonterra vote result 'utter madness'
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
Fonterra farmers want a smaller board, says co-op chairman John Wilson.
Wilson says that's the message he got from taking part in farmer meetings around the country during the director election campaign.
He says Fonterra board and Shareholders Council will soon embark on a major consultation process with shareholders
"We will have a discussion on the capability of the board and the mix between elected and appointed directors," says Wilson.
He says a lot of ground work has been done over the past three years.
The review committee will be made up of board and council members; outside consultants may be engaged as part of the review.
A discussion document will be released January; a special shareholders meeting will be called around June next year.
The Colin Armer/Greg Gent proposal to reduce the board to nine members was supported by 53.8% of farmers. However, the proposal needed 75% support to enable changes to the co-op constitution.
About 65% of shareholders, producing 73% of the co-op's total milk solids, turned out to vote
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
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