Tuesday, 28 February 2012 10:58

Editorial: Leak pull Feds back in line

Written by 

Federated farmers regularly fires out media releases offering opinions on all sorts of spurious matters but it has been strangely silent on what is, for Fonterra suppliers at least, the biggest challenge for their cooperative since its formation.

After its Dairy Council meeting in Palmerston North earlier this month the Federation said it had "spent some time on TAF (trading among farmers)" and that it is "a very big decision and will be a defining point in Fonterra's evolution."

But that was it. Four paragraphs for, to use Feds' own words, a defining point in Fonterra's evolution. This after the Dairy Council had heard from, and questioned, Minister David Carter and Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden over TAF and DIRA.

The media statement said Feds would be meeting with Fonterra's board in the next few weeks to go through points raised at the Dairy Council meeting. With DIRA submissions closed February 24, that's too late.

Dairy News understands there was a much more detailed media release planned, but a last minute deal was done with Fonterra's top brass to keep Feds' concerns out of the media on the grounds it would be damaging for Fonterra's image.

Granted, that's probably true, but how else are 10,500 suppliers, not to mention all those associated with them, going to hear how the Federation will be representing them? Will Feds be e-mailing all its dairy members with the detail? Doubtful. Will Fonterra put it out on FencePost. Not a chance.

Federated Farmers is ideally, if not uniquely, placed to relay an independent concensus of opinion on this pivotal issue, but it failed to do so. Federated Farmers Dairy members should be asking why.

As it was, the letter from Feds Dairy chairman, Willy Leferink, to Fonterra, was leaked to media, prompting a belated statement from the Federation.

The fact it was leaked suggests some within Feds Dairy Council were far from happy with the agreement to keep things quiet.

The Feds had been surprisingly quiet on TAF despite discontent among some Fonterra farmers. It has finally sat up and taken notice. Sadly, it took a leak from within the organisation to get things going.

Featured

$52,500 fine for effluent mismanagement

A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.

Ospri brings Bovine TB testing in-house

The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.

National

Machinery & Products

Fliegl offers effluent solutions

Founded in Germany as recently as 1977, today, the Fliegl Group employs more than 1100 workers, offering an expansive range…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

It's all about economics

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter