Fonterra slashes forecast milk price, again
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Two former Fonterra directors are seeking a reduction in the size of the co-op board.
Greg Gent, a former deputy chairman and Colin Armer, a former director and one of Fonterra's single largest farmer supplier, have put forward a notice of proposal to the co-op's agm in Waitoa next month.
They want shareholder support for a reduction of board members from 13 to nine.
If it is successful their proposal requires the Shareholders Council to conduct an election for all six elected directors in March 2016.
However, the proposal requires 50% support from the Shareholders Council and at least 75% of shareholder votes in favour.
"It's a big hurdle but we've made sure that there are plenty of mechanisms for shareholders to discuss the proposition and its pros and cons before casting their votes," Gent says.
"We all want our cooperative to be more globally competitive and successful with a clear strategy to achieve that. Our farming businesses and livelihoods depend on that.
"We believe that a smaller board is essential to improve the governance and performance of the cooperative. Fonterra has performed well below the expectations the farmers who voted to form it had at the time.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.

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