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New FAR board member Edward White.
Effective from 1 January 2026, there will be three new grower directors on the board of the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR).
Edward White of central Hawke's Bay, Michael Taylor of South Canterbury and Hamish Irwin of Mid Canterbury join current grower director Val McMillan, who has been re-elected, and two appointed FAR board members, Dr Mike Headley and Dr John Caradus, who have been reconfirmed.
The new appointments follow the retirement of two long-serving directors Steve Wilkins of Southland (12 years) and Guy Wigley of South Canterbury (six years). While directors normally serve a maximum of three terms (nine years), Steve Wilkins served an extra term to provide continuity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Edward White and his family run a large-scale arable, sheep, beef, and dairy farm at Takapau, with Ed responsible for the arable, grain drying and handling operations. He has also farmed in the United Kingdom. Ed chairs FAR’s eastern North Island Arable Research Group and has considerable experience with boards and governance structures.
Hamish Irwin is a fifth-generation mixed cropping farmer near Rakaia. A chartered accountant, Hamish has practised in the UK and New Zealand with international firms. Hamish is active in the operational and finance side of his arable farm and is involved in governance roles.
Based near Temuka, Michael Tayler farms a range of arable and horticultural crops over multiple properties. Michael was awarded a Nuffield scholarship in 2012. He has held various roles across the arable farming sector and is currently chair of United Wheat Growers.
FAR board chair Steven Bierema thanks the retiring directors for their service.
“They have been very thoughtful and insightful, with a massive amount of knowledge of arable farming, so we owe them a lot.”
He says he looks forward to working with the new directors.
An additional director has been appointed following a new requirement for the board to have at least seven farmer members.
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