increase font size
Fonterra Shareholders Council chairman James Barron.
New Fonterra shareholders council chairman James Barron says farmers are facing a raft of challenges.
But this isn’t the first time farmers have been under the pump, he says.
“We always have been able to overcome these challenges: this time is no different,” he told Dairy News.
He says the challenges provide “a massive opportunity” for Fonterra farmer shareholders to work together and get through them.
Changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) concern a lot of Fonterra farmers: most remain unhappy about having to supply milk to competitors at a subsidised price.
Farmers are also facing new regulations on freshwater and carbon emissions. Barron says consumer expectations and preferences are also changing, faster than ever before. And rural banking is also changing.
On Fonterra’s performance, he admits that its financial performance has been unsatisfactory.
But the co-op is doing many good things.
“Fonterra is providing me with a farm environment plan, it picks up milk every day and makes timely payment for it. It also supports me through the Farm Source model.
“And to top it all off, it maximises the price paid for my milk.”
On the council’s performance, Barron says all the recommendations of a governance and representation review in 2016 are in place.
The council has also changed the way it does things. For example, it now has communications designed for younger farmers and future shareholders.
And as shareholders have requested, the council now has more focus on its roles and functions outlined in Fonterra’s Constitution. Face-to-face engagements with shareholders have increased in the last 12 months and its annual conference is now open to more shareholders.
Barron says the council has also reviewed the way it collects and collates farmers’ views.
“So, we are continually looking to improve the way we do things. There’s no perfect state. As long as we all try to improve I think that’s the right space to be in.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.
OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.
Fonterra has delivered a fifth straight year of record organic milk price for farmer suppliers.
Fonterra says favourable weather conditions supporting pasture growth is boosting milk production.
Like many manufacturers around the world, European agricultural machinery and tractor manufacturers are currently operating in a difficult market environment. But they are heading to the world’s largest agricultural machinery event in Hanover next month with a degree of cautious optimism.
Established in 2021, the John Deere Technician of the Year Awards champion the important contribution parts and service technicians make to the Australian and New Zealand agriculture, construction and forestry industries.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.
New Zealand is closer to eradicating bovine TB than ever before, but possums remain a threat, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.
The ACT Party says media reports that global dairy giant Nestle has withdrawn from the Dairy Methane Action Alliance shows why New Zealand needs to rethink its approach to climate.
