Oz farmers' election wishlist
Australian farmers advocate NFF says this year’s Federal Election will be a defining moment for Australian agriculture.
Australia's largest dairy farm could change hands before Christmas.
The Van Diemen's Land Company (VDL) in Tasmania, owned by the New Plymouth District Council, is talking to potential investors, as confirmed by VDL governor Keith Sutton.
"VDL is dealing with a number of parties looking to invest in the company," he told Dairy News. "VDL expects an outcome to be announced well before Christmas."
The farms are owned through New Plymouth council's Perpetual Investment Fund (PIF), which gradually increased its ownership in the farms to a majority holding over a number of years.
The council's PIF was created from the $259m sale of the council's shares in lines company Powerco in 2004.
Established in 1825, VDL is located in the picturesque northwest of Tasmania, where it owns and operates 25 dairy farms, a dairy support unit and a standalone heifer rearing operation. Including replacements VDL runs about 30,000 dairy livestock.
VDL is one of Australia's oldest companies, established in London in 1824 by 11 men closely connected with the English wool trade and textile industry.
VDL became part of the New Zealand publicly listed company Tasman Agriculture Ltd in 1993. This went into voluntary liquidation on October 31, 2001, following a restructuring of its New Zealand Farms, and its shareholders received one share in Tasman Farms Ltd for every share held in TasAg by way of an in-specie distribution.
In June 2004 VDL bought all the shares in Tasman Farmdale Ltd, which owned land in the Circular Head region of northwest Tasmania.
Tasman Farms Ltd, an NZ company, is the majority shareholder in VDL, owning 98.42% of shares on issue.
In late 2007 the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) bid to buy Tasman Farms Ltd. In February 2008 this bid was finalised, the NPDC buying 74.33% of Tasman Farms Ltd. NPDC has since increased its shareholding to 100%.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.