Two Major NZ Dairy Deals Completed
Two major acquisitions in the New Zealand dairy sector were completed this week.
Fonterra's Pahiatua and Longburn based tanker operators have proven the benefits of pulling together - quite literally - by hauling their trucks by hand for charity.
The tanker pull was one of three team events dreamed up by shift team manager Michael Woodfield who wanted to raise the stakes for their Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser.
Teams of four had to complete the three challenges, including pulling a truck for 50 metres, eating dry Weet-Bix and reversing a truck and trailer around a 90-degree angle corner. The tasks were timed and judged and were carried out at the depots at around 6am before the drivers went out for their dairy milk runs.
Raising money for Relay for Life every second year, Michael wanted to up the ante, and it worked, more than doubling their usual fundraising total, this year pulling in almost $3,000 between the depots and the local Fonterra manufacturing sites.
Michael explains that he was compelled to really give their Cancer Society fundraiser a boost this year because "the last 10 funerals I've been to have been because of cancer. It's an awful disease and it affects everyone in some way."
It was a tight competition, but Longburn depot's Blue Shift took out the number one title and Red Shift from rival depot Pahiatua came in at a close second. A trophy's been donated by Longburn manufacturing site. It's hoped with an official prize to fight for, the challenge will become a more regular feature, proving a little inter-depot rivalry can also do great things for a great cause.
While the District Field Days brought with it a welcome dose of sunshine, it also attracted a significant cohort of sitting members from the Beehive – as one might expect in an election year.
Irish Minister of State of Agriculture, Noel Grealish was in New Zealand recently for an official visit.
While not all sibling rivalries come to blows, one headline event at the recent New Zealand Rural Games held in Palmerston North certainly did, when reigning World Champion Jack Jordan was denied the opportunity of defending his world title in Europe later this year, after being beaten by his big brother’s superior axle blows, at the Stihl Timbersports Nationals.
AgriZeroNZ has invested $5.1 million in Australian company Rumin8 to accelerate development of its methane-reducing products for cattle and bring them to New Zealand.
Farmers want more direct, accurate information about both fuel and fertiliser supply.
A bull on a freight plane sounds like the start of a joke, but for Ian Bryant, it is a fond memory of days gone by.
OPINION: Who will replace Miles Hurrell as Fonterra's next CEO?
OPINION: Governments all over the world are dealing with the fuel crisis.