Partnership to help boost genetics, data crunching
Two agritech companies have joined forces to help eliminate manual entry and save farmer time.
Herd improvement company LIC says it's well-positioned for the challenges ahead and remains focused on its core purpose - delivering value for farmer shareholders.
LIC chairman Corrigan Sowman made the comment at the co-op's annual meeting in Hamilton last month.
Sowman, a dairy farmer from Golden Bay, acknowledged the headwinds the sector may face but expressed confidence in LIC's resilience and future potential.
"Our cooperative is well-positioned for the challengesahead. We remain focused on our core purpose: delivering value for our farmer shareholders. This goes beyond short-term gains. Our decisions today shape the future of New Zealand's national herd."
Looking forward, LIC says it will continue to innovate and invest in the health and productivity of herds, using cutting-edge genetic improvements and data-driven solutions to support farmers.
"LIC is here to safeguard the future of farming in New Zealand. Our teams are working hard every day to improve herd performance, which in turn supports the strength of our communities and the broader dairy sector," says Sowman.
Reflecting on the cooperative's financial performance, Sowman emphasised LIC's ability to deliver a sustainable profit and a solid return for its shareholders despite a challenging economic environment.
"We are proud to have closed the year with a respectable profit of $7.7 million and a total dividend of 18.84 cents per share, thanks to prudent management and a strong balance sheet with no debt."
The co-operative forecasts underlying earnings of $16-22 million for 2024/25, barring any significant external factors.
Sowman notes that with a strong financial foundation and no debt, LIC is positioned to continue delivering long-term value to its farmer-shareholders.
At the AGM, LIC welcomed two new directors - Mike O'Connor, North Island region, and Tony Coltman, South Island region, and a new member of the Shareholder Reference Group (SRG).
Commodity prices and interest rates play a huge role in shaping farmer confidence, but these factors are beyond their control, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.
DairyNZ is supporting a proposed new learning model for apprenticeships and traineeships that would see training, education, and pastoral care delivered together to provide the best chance of success.
Two agritech companies have joined forces to help eliminate manual entry and save farmer time.
The recent squabble between the Cook Islands and NZ over their deal with China has added a new element of tension in the relationship between China and NZ.
The world is now amid potentially one of the most disruptive periods in world trade for a very long time.
Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.
OPINION: Henry Dimbleby, author of the UK's Food Strategy, recently told the BBC: "Meat production is about 85% of our…
OPINION: For the last few weeks, we've witnessed a parade of complaints about New Zealand's school lunch program: 'It's arriving…