Red meat sector reaffirms commitment to China
The next phase of the Taste Pure Nature campaign has been launched in Shanghai, China.
West Otago farmer Allan Richardson will contest the South Island director for the Farmlands cooperative.
Richardson describes himself as "a passionate advocate for the cooperative model for companies in the agricultural sector."
"With the current controversy being played out in public over the ownership of Silver Fern Farms, I think now is a critical time for farmers who are still actively involved on the land to step up and become involved in securing the future of the co-operative model in the rural sector."
Richardson says farmers stood idly while the $2 billion business performed poorly for a number of years. Farmers can't afford to stand back while events like this happen.
"If we want the cooperative model to survive, we must engage with farmer-owned organisations, ensure their governance operates to the highest standards and that they operate with a sustainable financial structure that doesn't leave them at the mercy of external organisations such as banks." he says.
The merger between CRT and Farmlands has so far been deemed to be a success but there needs to be a sense of urgency around completing the full integration of the companies and becoming focused on the future, he says.
"I will be a strong advocate for Farmlands and farmers working closely together to plot a future for the organisations which preserves the cooperative model," he says.
"When the private sector becomes involved in co-operatives, the focus moves to investor returns and away from focusing exclusively on the needs of farmers."
Richardson says that there will be a tough learning curve adjusting to being involved with Farmlands at a board level. He says his experience in export businesses and as a director of farming at commercial companies provides him with a strong platform.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
Funding is proving crucial for predator control despite a broken model reliant on the goodwill of volunteers.
A major milestone on New Zealand's unique journey to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis could come before the end of this year.
We're working through it, and we'll get to it.
The debate around New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement is heating up.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.