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.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride believes the uncontested director election shows that the co-op is well governed.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride claims an uncontested director election this year reflects the calibre of the two board members up for re-election.
Sitting Fonterra board members Brent Goldsack and Cathy Quinn are unopposed.
However, as this is an uncontested election, under Fonterra’s board election rules, both sitting directors must gain more than 50% support of votes cast to serve another three-year term.
When nominations for the non-assessment process closed last month, Goldsack and Quinn were the only two candidates. This is the first time in the co-op’s history that director elections have not been contested.
McBride told Rural News that while shareholders believe their co-op is well governed, it also reflects the skill sets of Goldsack and Quinn.
“No one else came through the nomination process; that shows the co-op is well governed and the calibre of the incumbents,” he says.
Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson is also unopposed for another three-year term on the council.
Meanwhile, former Fonterra Co-operative Council chair Simon Couper is making a comeback to a governance role within the co-operative, 11 years after resigning as chair. Couper stepped down as council chair in 2012, unhappy with some aspects of the proposed Trading Among Farmers (TAF), which was later approved by farmer shareholders.
Voting Packs containing candidate profiles will be mailed to eligible shareholders from Monday. Shareholders can vote online or by post from Tuesday, October 17. Voting closes at 10.30am on Tuesday, 7 November 2023 with the results being announced later that day.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…