Farmers' call
OPINION: Fonterra's $4.22 billion consumer business sale to Lactalis is ruffling a few feathers outside the dairy industry.
Amendments to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill have passed its third and final reading in Parliament.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the Bill is a significant step to continuing a competitive and innovative dairy industry.
"The Bill legislates for greater transparency of the way Fonterra currently sets its farm gate milk price through its milk price manual, though it does not directly intervene in Fonterra's milk price setting processes."
The Bill also includes changes that allow Fonterra to move to its shareholder approved Trading Among Farmers (TAF) system.
"There has been considerable debate amongst Fonterra's shareholder base around the merits of TAF. But after the shareholders voting in favour for TAF and the legislation passing today, it is time for Fonterra to move forward growing the opportunities that exist for the company both in New Zealand and overseas."
Under the legislation, farmers will retain the ability to freely enter into Fonterra or exit to competing dairy processors and be assured of receiving a fair value for their shares, Carter says.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.