Businesses chip in to help farmers
Banks and rural businesses are chipping in to help farmers in Southland and Otago.
North Waikato sheep and beef farmer John Jackson has thown his hat in the ring for a seat on the board of fertiliser co-op Ballance.
Jackson describes himself as a good listener, communicator, independent thinker and team player.
He believes that he can bring all of these attributes and day-to-day farming experience to the fertiliser company’s board table.
“I have a history of working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes. I am a good listener and critical thinker. I can capably represent farmer shareholders’ interests.”
Jackson says the co-op is in good financial shape and credits this to its current and former shareholders, administrators and all those associated with the company.
“It has moved with the times – not just in the quality and formulation of product – but with the technology around application,” he adds.
“However, the challenges keep coming. It is of utmost importance that we continue with appropriate messaging of the ‘science-based’ approach – backed up with certified quality and accuracy of placement to ensure our place in the world.”
Jackson says his links to both farming and Ballance are not tenuous.
“Our shareholding in Ballance has grown as our business has grown. I live the droughts and the good seasons, the industry setbacks and its successes,” he explains.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says the 2025 Fieldays has been one of more positive he has attended.
A fundraiser dinner held in conjunction with Fieldays raised over $300,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
Recent results from its 2024 financial year has seen global farm machinery player John Deere record a significant slump in the profits of its agricultural division over the last year, with a 64% drop in the last quarter of the year, compared to that of 2023.
An agribusiness, helping to turn a long-standing animal welfare and waste issue into a high-value protein stream for the dairy and red meat sector, has picked up a top innovation award at Fieldays.
The Fieldays Innovation Award winners have been announced with Auckland’s Ruminant Biotech taking out the Prototype Award.
Following twelve years of litigation, a conclusion could be in sight of Waikato’s controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1).
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