McRae Wins Southern South Island B+LNZ Director Vote
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Beef + Lamb NZ directors are in line for a pay rise this year.
A resolution calling for an increase in total director fees is before livestock farmers.
The resolution recommends a 4% increase in the chairman’s fee and 2% rise in director fee: it also proposes a $20,000 pool for additional responsibility taken on by directors.
According to B+LNZ 2019 annual report, board chairman Andrew Morrison received $70,000; each director received $30,000.
Voting is now open: results will be announced at B+LNZ annual meeting in New Plymouth on March 26.
Another resolution before levy-paying farmers is appointing KPMG as auditor for this financial year.
To be eligible to vote, a livestock farmer must, on 30 June 2019, have owned at least 250 sheep, or 50 beef cattle, or 100 dairy cattle
There are no director elections this year: sitting directors Andrew Morrison (Southern South Island) and George Tatham (Eastern North Island) are being returned unopposed.
Federated Farmers' new vice president Sandra Faulkner says the issue of adverse events emergency management and infrastructure needs to be taken out of the three-year political cycle.
Building a strong team is one of the biggest drivers of a successful sheep and beef business, but it can also be one of the tougher parts to get right.
Blueberry growers are warning that fresh imports could pose a huge biosecurity risk for NZ’s horticulture sector.
As expected, the US has launched a safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could impact New Zealand sheepmeat returns.
A milk glut around the world shows no sign of easing, putting downward pressure on farmgate milk prices for the next few months.
A pause on Waikato Regional Council's (WRC) plan change that sets new freshwater rules for farming could be announced in the coming weeks.

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