Alliance Group faces crucial vote on Dawn Meats deal
The future of the Alliance Group is “pretty dark” if the proposed Dawn Meats deal does not go through, says board chair Mark Wynne.
Meat co-operative Alliance Group’s upgraded facility in Southland has started processing beef.
The company began processing cows and light bull at Lorneville near Invercargill this week after an 18-month project to further upgrade its modern venison plant on the site.
David Surveyor, chief executive of Alliance Group says the project was a key part of the co-operative’s beef growth strategy and in direct response to farmer demand.
“We have seen a steady increase in supply volumes year on year and our farmers have been seeking more beef capacity in peak season. This investment meets this need but also benefits our deer farmers because we have increased the plant’s venison processing capacity.”
The new beef processing facility will free up space at the co-operative’s Mataura plant for prime steer, heifer and bull.
Alliance Group is continuing to invest in a premium beef portfolio and strengthening its beef performance at its Mataura, Levin and Pukeuri (Oamaru) plants.
“We are focused on maximising our operational performance to benefit farmer-shareholders and create a stronger co-operative. This beef expansion also reflects our commitment to the Lorneville plant, which is an important part of our network and the Southland region,” says Surveyor.
“The expansion creates a longer season for our venison/beef plant employees at Lorneville and adds new jobs to the region.”
Alliance Group is Southland’s largest employer and the Lorneville plant alone has almost 2,000 people in total on site at peak capacity.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

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