Fonterra launches farmer-led youth dairy programme in Waikato and Bay of Plenty
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
Former Fonterra Shareholder Council chairman Duncan Coull has been elected as the new chair for Fertiliser co-operative Ballance Agri-Nutrients.
Current Ballance chair David Peacocke is stepping down as a director in September 2020 at the Annual Shareholders Meeting (ASM) – with Coull taking up the post after the ASM.
Peacocke is a Waikato farmer and businessman. He has been a Ballance director since 2005 and was elected as chair in 2013.
Coull is an Otorohanga-based dairy farmer and was elected on to the Ballance board in 2018.
“Our relationships with everyone from shareholders and customers to suppliers and regulators are extremely important to the success of our company and the agricultural sector,” he says.
“Our farmers continue to adapt and rise to the challenge of increasing expectations of our consumers and communities, while at the same time making sure they are operating sustainably and optimising profitability.”
A verbal stoush has broken out between Federated Farmers and a new group that claims to be fighting against cheaper imports that undermine NZ farmers.
According to the latest ANZ Agri Focus report, energy-intensive and domestically-focused sectors currently bear the brunt of rising fuel, fertiliser and freight costs.
Having gone through a troublesome “divorce” from its association and part ownership of AGCO, Indian manufacturer TAFE is said to be determined to be seen as a modern business rather than just another tractor maker from the developing world.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.

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