Misguided campaign
OPINION: Last week, Greenpeace lit up Fonterra's Auckland headquarters with 'messages from the common people' - that the sector is polluting the environment.
Bay of Plenty farmer and accountant Donna Smit has been nominated by the Fonterra board for one of the two director vacancies.
The board has also nominated director Michael Spaans, retiring by rotation.
Both candidates were recommended by the Independent Selection Panel. The process for their nomination was supported by the Shareholders Council in accordance with the independent nomination process.
As a result of the recent changes to Fonterra’s governance and representation, approved by Shareholder vote at the Special Meeting in October, the 2016 Directors’ Election process includes two nomination options; the independent nomination process and the self-nomination process.
The self-nomination process, where farmers can stand as a candidate for the board with the support of 35 different Shareholders, is now open. Nominations close on Thursday, 10 November 2016.
The full list of candidates for the Fonterra board election, including the independent nomination process candidates and any self-nomination process candidates, will be announced by November 16.
Voting packs, containing candidate profiles, will be mailed to eligible shareholders on November 21.
Shareholders can vote by internet, fax or post, using the First Past the Post, Majority system. Voting closes at 10.30am on Tuesday, 6 December 2016 with the results being announced later that day.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).