Farmlands partners with Blackcurrent to launch FLEX for farmers
Input costs can make or break a season for farmers and electricity is one of the largest expenses.
Two farmer-owned rural traders are looking at merging their operations.
Farmlands Trading Society and Combined Rural Traders (CRT) have begun investigating a potential merger between the two cooperatives.
In a joint statement, the two co-ops said they have appointed external professional advisers to assist with their investigations. Shareholders will be given an update in mid-October.
"Any proposals would be subject to full consultation and a vote from all our cooperative members," the statement says.
It says given both cooperatives operate in the same sector but different markets, the possibility of a merger has been speculated by market commentators for a number of years
"The boards of each company will undertake a thorough evaluation process, which may take some time, before making any formal recommendations to shareholders. A final decision will be up to shareholders in both cooperatives to whom full information will be provided in addition to shareholder consultation meetings."
CRT operates 31 stores in the South Island. Farmlands operates 45 stores in the North Island.
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With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
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