Fonterra's Whareroa Wins Directors Award
Fonterra's Whareroa site took home the prestigious Directors Award at the co-op's 'Oscars of Manufacturing', while Clandeboye led the way with multiple wins at this year's Best Site Cup.
Donna Cram, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Taranaki, has been named the 2023 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Cram, a councillor on the Taranaki Regional Council, is heavily involved in her community as the Taranaki Catchment Communities Inc Chair and Founder, and as part of the DairyNZ Dairy Environment Leaders.
Dairy Women’s Network (DWN) trustee Donna Smit says the judges had an “unenviable job”, choosing between Cram and other nominees Rebecca Miller, Kimberly Crewther, and Sheena Penwarden.
However, she says Cram was a standout for the judges because of her way of inspiring her community, especially young people.
“Her ability to see the big picture and then mobilise those around her was something the judges’ thought was really special. They were looking for commitment, drive and passion for the dairy sector, someone who is a positive role model for women in dairying,” Smit says.
“They were looking for a strong performer who demonstrates leadership within her community, and with a wider circle of influence, and who epitomises the ‘bigger, brighter, bolder’ mantra shared through the DWN Conference this week”.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says Cram’s leadership, community engagement and commitment to sustainability “represent some of the best attributes of Kiwi dairy farmers”.
“We want more young people coming into the dairy sector and she’s helping to do exactly that. Fonterra is proud to sponsor this award and we acknowledge all the finalists for the significant contribution they have made, and continue to make, to our industry,” he says.
Cram will receive a scholarship of up to $20,000 for an approved and personally chosen development programme, or professional/business coaching and/or learning experience.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.
While the Government has moved quickly to make commercial hauliers' lot easier during the current fuel crisis, they appear to be stuck in the creep box when it comes to the agricultural industry.
Waikato farmers have been told that the Government’s new planning system legislation and the region’s Plan Change 1 (PC1) “won’t mesh together very well”.

OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing…
OPINION: A nation that relies as heavily as NZ does on functional global shipping lanes will have to do its…