Open Country opens butter plant
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Delwyn Knight has taken the role of general manager of animal breeding company, Liberty Genetics.
Although modest about landing the top job, Knight admits that she is one of very few women working in top dairy genetics roles, and she is excited about taking on the position.
"It's great to be in a position where I can provide value and support to farmers when they are making important farming business decisions," says Knight.
"I'm really looking forward to working directly with our farming clients, understanding what their needs are and supporting them to get the best results for their herds."
Knight brings a strong background in farming and rural business to Liberty Genetics, most recently working as customer services manager for CRV Ambreed. Prior to that, she was the advertising manager at the Waikato Times - managing sales, production and advertising editorial.
Liberty Genetics' main goal is to grow market share, and Knight sees the relationship between Liberty Genetics and CRV Ambreed as a key factor in achieving in this.
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
Coming in at a year-end total at 3088 units, a rise of around 10% over the 2806 total for 2024, the signs are that the New Zealand farm machinery industry is turning the corner after a difficult couple of years.