Strong uptake of good wintering practices
DairyNZ has seen a significant increase in the number of farmers improving their wintering practices, which results in a higher standard of animal care and environmental protection.
Former DairyNZ chairman John Luxton is not hanging up his gumboots yet.
The former agriculture minister stepped down last week as DairyNZ chairman after an eight-year stint. But he is retaining his other connections with the sector, remaining a director of the Waikato independent milk processor Tatua.
He is also co-chairman of the Waikato River Authority, and chairs the Porirua Farm Ltd partnerships that manage eight farms. He owns a home farm where his son is sharemilking.
Luxton told Rural News it is good to retire from DairyNZ on his own terms. "It's a four-year term and it's time for younger ones to come through."
Luxton says he is leaving "a really good team of directors" to run the industry-good organisation.
About 100 farmers attended the annual meeting, a near-record turnout.
Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy at the meeting thanked Luxton for uniting the industry. "It hasn't been an easy job at times, to make farmers realise they have to make changes to farming practices."
He says under Luxton's leadership DairyNZ has taken a lead role in improving the industry's environmental credentials.
Luxton served as a National MP for 15 years, including nine years as a cabinet minister and a stint as minister of agriculture.
Guy says the relationship between DairyNZ and the Government has been great under Luxton's leadership.
DairyNZ chief executive Tim Mackle described Luxton as a rock for the organisation. "We look forward to keeping engaged with you since you're not hanging up your boots yet," he says.
The DairyNZ board will meet early next month to appoint a new chairman. Former Fonterra director Jim van der Poel is the frontrunner. Until the new chairman is appointed, former Fonterra executive Barry Harris will be chair.
Meanwhile Waikato farmer Elaine Cook has been elected to the DairyNZ board, replacing Luxton.
Two sitting board members, Ben Allomes and Michael Spaans, were re-elected for another term.
Cook has served as an associate director of DairyNZ; she was the 2006 NZ Sharemilker of the Year and was a finalist in the NZ Dairy Woman of the year award this year.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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