What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
OPINION: The Hound notes that Fonterra is cashing in on the curent government's largesse with taxpayer money.
The dairy co-op recently unveiled its first electric milk tanker for which it received $427,000 in co-funding from taxpayers to offset the estimated total cost of $850,000 to purchase the electric truck cab/chassis and convert it into a tanker.
The tanker - apparently named 'Milk-E' - will be based at Fonterra's Waitoa plant, where there's a lot of close supplying farms on relatively flat land.
This begs the question, just how realistic and sustainable are electric milk tankers if they can only do short runs with no hills to maintain battery life?
Looks like more greenwashing than anything realistic.
Meanwhile, speaking of greenwashing, Energy Minister Megan Woods, who was on hand to unveil the electric truck, had a V8 BMW740 and driver waiting outside to take her to her next appointment!
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.
New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…