Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
A candidate for the upcoming Fonterra board election says the co-op needs to get farmers back on board and regain their trust.
Victor Rutherford, an equity partner in a 600-cow farm near Dargaville, believes Fonterra has the potential to be as successful as the small Waikato processor Tatua.
“There’s an old saying: if you keep doing what you have always done and expect to get a different result, it’s not going to happen,” he told Rural News.
“Fonterra is still strong but it needs to be reinforced to a level far beyond where we are now.
“We must do this in order to get farmers back on board.”
Rutherford says the co-op cannot afford to have “a waiting list of people” at Open Country Dairy (OCD), New Zealand’s second largest processor.
“Tatua farmers aren’t on the waiting list at OCD. They are not unhappy, they love their co-op and are proud of what they have achieved.
“I think Fonterra has the potential to be very similar.”
Tatua last week announced a final payout of $8.50/kgMS, after retentions, for last season -- $2.15 more than Fonterra’s final payout of $6.35.
Tatua’s earnings equated to a payout of $9.66/kgMS, of which $1.16/kgMS was retained by the co-op.
Rutherford says Tatua’s results show farmers need “more than just change”.
“It’s aspirational and uncomplicated that Tatua can return $6 in a $3.90 year… and now Tatua is paying $8.50 after retaining $1.16, when Fonterra is paying $6.35.
“Farmers need more than just change... I have a strong determination that Fonterra needs to be better than even our new strategy suggests.”
Rutherford, a dairy farmer for the last 23 years, believes his business background and farming knowledge “would add some perspective to the decisionmaking process on the board”.
He is a strong believer in Fonterra farmers holding 100% ownership and control of the co-op.
“That’s my main motivation. If our co-op isn’t there OCD will be setting the rules. Fonterra cannot fail. Whatever it takes we must get farmers back on board.”
Five candidates
Five candidates are vying for two Fonterra directorships this year.
Incumbents Andy Macfarlane and Donna Smit retire by rotation and are re-contesting.
The other three candidates are Philipp Haas, Cathy Quinn and Victor Rutherford.
Apart from Rutherford, the other four candidates all took part in the independent assessment process. Rutherford is a self-nominated candidate with the written support of at least 35 farmer shareholders.
Voting starts October 15 and closes 10.30am on November 5. Results will be announced later that day.
OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.
Sheep and beef farmers Matt and Kristin Churchward say using artificial intelligence (AI) to spread fertiliser on their sprawling 630ha farm is a game changer for their business.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…