Strange bedfellows
OPINION: Two types of grifters have used the sale of Fonterra's consumer brands as a platform to push their own agendas - under the guise of 'caring about the country'.
OPINON: In the latest hysterical press release from Greenpeace, the sandal wearers have unleashed their worst conspiracy theorist tendencies, ranting about “Big Tobacco, Big Oil” and now “Big Meat and Dairy”.
They claim to have ‘proof’ about “Fonterra’s role in derailing climate action”.
The ‘big smoking gun’ is a report from Netherlands-based NGO ‘Changing Markets Foundation’.
However, this NGO is hardly impartial or independent.
Its founders are Joakim Bergman, a professional greenie who spent a big chunk of his career in senior roles for Greenpeace, and Paul Gilding, former “global CEO of Greenpeace”.
And its website is awash with juvenile claims that farmer-led protests around the world, similar to Groundswell, are part of “a transnational far-right movement”.
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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