Keeping cyber attacks at bay
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
MyFarm director Grant Rowan is considering another tilt at the Fonterra board elections.
Rowan, who missed out last year, told Dairy News he was “seriously considering” standing again.
“I had a reasonable level of support last year; obviously it wasn’t enough to win a board seat and I’m hoping to do better,” he says. “I never made a secret of the fact that I had interest in standing again.”
The key issue he sees for Fonterra is demonstrating “the compelling long-term benefits that flow from remaining a strong and united cooperative”.
Rowan says Fonterra needs to lift its game – perform better and drive better returns to farmers.
He wants the co-op to reward farmers for their commitment. “Farmers understand the reasons to supply milk to and support the co-op; in turn Fonterra must have farmers’ best interests at heart.”
Rowan also wants Fonterra to improve its relationship with farmers.
If elected Rowan says he’ll bring a “commitment to the success of Fonterra and make it the dairy cooperative, milk processor and marketer of choice for all New Zealand dairy farmers”.
“We need to respond to a changing world where competition is increasingly tough. Fonterra board and management need to be on top of their game to deliver the results shareholders deserve.”
Three Fonterra directors -- chairman John Wilson, Blue Read and Nicola Shadbolt -- retire by rotation this year. All are expected to contest the election.
Nominations open next month; all candidates can take part in a roadshow to meet shareholders and answer questions. An assessment panel will interview candidates and present their report to shareholders before the vote.
Voting will take place until Fonterra’s annual meeting in late November; election results will be announced at the meeting.
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.