Lower North Island farmers “cautiously optimistic” heading into winter – DairyNZ
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
One of New Zealand’s largest dairy farmers- the Van Leeuwen Group- has been placed into receivership.
Calibre Partners, formerly KordaMentha, has been appointed receivers.
In a letter to suppliers, receivers Brendon Gibson, Neale Jackson and Natalie Burrett, says they are now in control of the assets of businesses of the van Leeuwen Group.
They intend to continue running the business, which comprises 10 dairy platforms and four support blocks with 8000ha under management, milking approximately 10,000 cows. It also includes the world’s largest robotic farm.
Owned by Aad and Wilma van Leeuwen, the business was among a number of other farmers around New Zealand who have suffered from the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak, which hit their farms in July 2017.
They were embroiled in a legal battle with Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in a dispute about compensation. They have already been paid out $6.3 million by MPI, but sought further compensation for professional consultancy fees, bank charges and assorted other costs.
Early last year VGL refinanced its operations under a $140 million deal with Australian-based funds manager, Merricks Capital.
On Wednesday Calibre Partners wrote to the van Leeuwens giving notice that Merricks had appointed them receivers.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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