Keeping cyber attacks at bay
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
FORMER FONTERRA director Greg Gent is confident the co-op will continue to be a major player on the international dairy market.
Gent says New Zealand is not Fonterra's key market and it has to shine in the international markets.
"We are only 10% of Nestle," he told Dairy News. "Out there in the international market, we are competing with the big boys. And we have to remain a major global player."
Gent – who along with chairman Henry van der Heyden – joined the Fonterra board at its inception 10 years ago, says it was time to step down.
"Ten years is a long time," he says.
Gent spent 18 years as a dairy company director – including chairman of Northland Dairy and then chairman of Kiwi Dairy after it merged with Northland.
Van der Heyden says Gent is "one of the best farmer directors" he has served with.
"Greg's understanding of the global dairy business is very good. He also always put the dairy industry and Fonterra before his interests. This is always easier said than done."
Gent received a standing ovation from Fonterra shareholders at its annual meeting in Whangarei last week.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.