New associate director for state farmer
State farmer Pamu has appointed Ash-Leigh Campbell as an associate director and observer on its board.
Agribusiness leader Warren Parker has been appointed the new chairman of state farmer Pāmu Farms (Landcorp).
Parker is a former chief executive of Scion (NZ Forest Research Institute) and Landcare Research, and was previously chief operating officer of AgResearch.
He chairs the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group and until recently chaired the New Zealand Conservation Authority. He is a director of Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Farmlands Cooperative Society and Genomics Aotearoa.
Parker has a PhD in animal science and was previously a professor of agribusiness and resource management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles, including supervising the 9000 stock unit Riverside Farm in Wairarapa.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson says Parker is an experienced expert in NZ’s primary industries a senior in science, education, management and most recently in governance. Robertson applauded Parker’s “experience and ability to take over the chair’s role at Landcorp”.
Associate Minister of State Owned Enterprises Shane Jones says Parker’s “experience in a wide range of primary industries will enable him to look at all Landcorp’s work and ensure shareholder value for money from our investment”.
Landcorp is New Zealand’s largest farming business. Its core business is pastoral farming, running 1.5 million stock units – sheep, deer, beef and dairy cattle – on 126 properties totalling 372,115ha under management.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.