Government appoints three new directors to Pāmu board
The Government has appointed three new members to the board of state farmer Landcorp Farming Ltd, trading as Pāmu.
Landcorp Chief executive Steven Carden says its further development of dairy farms in the central North Island is under review.
He says since he became chief executive he’s been aware of the risks dairying poses to Landcorp’s balance sheet.
Landcorp had initially planned to develop 35 dairy farms in the region in partnership with private company Wairakei Pastoral, but has so far done only 13. Contrary to popular belief, Carden says they are not committed solely to developing dairy farms.
“What we are committed to is developing land for pastoral purposes and it doesn’t have to be dairy,” he told Rural News.
“We are looking broadly at other options such as sheep, beef cropping options and dairy support. We are having an expansive look at what we can do and Wairakei Pastoral is amenable to alternative ideas.”
Carden says Landcorp is committed overall to a long term outlook in its operating environment rather than short term riskier gains. He says the company runs a conservative balance sheet with a low debt-equity ratio.
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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