Coutts appointed chair-elect of Mainland Group
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
Fonterra directors and shareholder councillors have strongly recommended farmers vote against a proposal to change the cooperative's capital structure.
Shareholder Murray Beach has successfully included a complex and detailed proposal to change the cooperative's shareholding rules; farmers will decide its fate at their annual meeting in Waitoa later this month.
Beach is also contesting the co-op's director elections. But his fate already seems sealed.
The ramifications of Beach's plan are profound. So in the meeting notice Fonterra's board has published a damning explanatory note: "The proposal is detailed but contains a number of inconsistencies and unworkable features."
The board says the proposal "would re-introduce redemption risk which was removed by the changes made to the constitution by shareholders as part of Trading Among Farmers".
"The proposal is also inconsistent with the current statutory framework provided for in the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001. The re-introduction of redemption risk would undermine the company's financial strength which would impact [its] strong credit rating and its ability to secure debt funding on favourable terms."
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
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