Green light for acquisition
The merger of two of the country’s largest animal nutrition companies won’t lessen competition, the Commerce Commission has ruled.
Dairy Women's Network has signed two new partners.
Farming cooperative LIC and ruminant feed manufacturer SealesWinslow have both recently signed on as partners to DWN, a not-for-profit organisation that works to support women in the business of dairying.
DWN chief executive Zelda de Villiers says the network is extremely appreciative of the support provided by commercial partners to DWN, its members and the dairy industry.
"It's during tough economic times when commercial and industry good partnerships like these really come into their own.
"DWN as a grassroots, connected organisation provides a direct channel to dynamic New Zealand companies like SealesWinslow and LIC to share the wealth of experience and knowledge in a learning environment with dairy women."
LIC chief financial officer Linda Cooper says women play a pivotal, but often underestimated, role in dairy farming. "Organisations like DWN provide those women with the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, develop their skills and take on leadership roles within their own business, wider networks and communities, as well as the industry.
"We are looking forward to working closely with DWN to support learning and development initiatives – particularly in the space of herd improvement, farm performance, information technology and genetics, for the good of the whole industry."
Ballance Agri-Nutrients event and sponsorship manager Mandy McPhail says its subsidiary SealesWinslow's formalised partnership with DWN was a natural extension of Ballance's support, in the fields of feed and animal nutrition.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients has been a partner of DWN for more than two years.
"SealesWinslow's partnership with DWN provides us with the opportunity to work closely with DWN to better understand member challenges, goals and aspirations," says McPhail.
"In turn, we're able to offer members expertise and seasonally tailored support activities, from calf rearing to bulk dairy."
She agreed that the networks role in connecting, informing, supporting and inspiring its members, in turn develops the industry as a whole.
This calving season, SealesWinslow has run regional calf rearing workshops with DWN members, focusing on developing calving plans, housing and the nutritional needs of calves before and after weaning.
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.
Two major red meat sector projects are getting up to a combined $1.7 million in funding from the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
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.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.