What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
New Fonterra directors Andy McFarlane (L) and Brent Goldsack (R), with re-elected director John Monaghan at the co-op’s annual meeting in New Plymouth last week.
Fonterra's two new farmer-elected directors are looking forward to their new roles.
Brent Goldsack and Andy Macfarlane were elected at the co-op’s annual meeting in Hawera last week.
Macfarlane says serving on the board of New Zealand’s largest company is a great responsibility.
Goldsack says he is humbled to be chosen to serve farmers.
“Fonterra is in great shape and I look forward to serving farmers and New Zealand.”
Shareholders voted to elect incumbent director John Monaghan and new directors Brent Goldsack and Andy Macfarlane.
Goldsack lives at Matangi and has farming interests in Waikato and Manawatu.
Born in Taranaki and raised on a dairy farm in Inglewood, Goldsack is a chartered accountant and was a partner at PwC for at least 12 years.
Macfarlane is from Ashburton and has extensive farming interests in Mid Canterbury.
He runs a rural and farm advisory business and is a director of AgResearch and Ngai Tahu Farming and a councillor of Lincoln University.
Goldsack and Macfarlane replace Leonie Guiney and David MacLeod on the board.
Wairarapa farmer John Monaghan was re-elected for another three-year term by farmers.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.
New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.

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