Keeping cyber attacks at bay
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
Fonterra' s vote on Trading Among Farmers means more safeguards are needed in the proposed legislation to protect farmer control and ownership, Labour's Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor says.
"When the law changes voted on by farmers today first came in front of Parliament, we (Labour) said protections need to be locked into law because putting them into Fonterra's constitution is not enough," O'Connor says.
"Our fears have been realised with constitutional amendments to lock in farmer ownership only receiving 72.8% of the vote. Changing the constitution requires a 75% vote so they haven't been adopted.
"The result is that farmers have voted for trading among farmers, but even though there were more votes for the protection measures they haven't passed.
"If trading among farmers goes ahead without Labour's proposed amendment, control of Fonterra and its profits could pass to non-farmers and potentially out of New Zealand," O'Connor says.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.