Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Fonterra is launching a new quality assurance and recognition scheme for its farmers.
The scheme, to be launched in the 2019-20 season starting June next year, will be branded; global customers and the New Zealand public will see the branding on Fonterra products.
Fonterra chairman John Monaghan told the co-op annual general meeting in Lichfield yesterday that the scheme will bring together existing milk quality, animal welfare and environmental requirements under a single programme.
While farmers with good management practices will be rewarded, those not meeting the minimum standard will incur demerit points.
From next week Farm Source team will be asking farmers about the types of recognition and rewards they would prefer under the proposed scheme.
The programme may include financial incentives for farmers, says Monaghan.
“Once that commercial value is better understood, we will decide whether to expand the programme to include financial incentives,” Monaghan says.
“Either way, there will still be demerits for the small minority of our farmers who do not meet our minimum standards from time to time.”
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.