Ah Tatua, You've Done It Again!
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
Your old mate sympathises with the plight of the country’s dairy farmers and how the falling payout is impacting their financial stability.
However, the Hound suggests that while moves by Fonterra to save money and help returns to its shareholders is for the most part a good thing, some of its austerity measures border on penny-pinching stupidity. One example is the way it treats farmer members of the Shareholders Council. Despite the fact these councillors regularly fly from all parts of the country to meet at Fonterra HQ in Auckland, the dairy co-op does not stump up for Koru club membership. And when the councillors arrive at Auckland airport they then have to take a bus into town for their meetings at Fonterra’s head office ‘gumboot castle’!
Farmer-owned fertiliser company, Ballance Agri Nutrients is welcoming National’s plan to negotiate security agreements with key supplier countries to protect New Zealand-bound products from export restrictions and greater supply chain certainty.
Carrfields has announced the appointment of Stu Hall to the newly created role of chief operating officer, Carrfields Ltd, reflecting the continued growth of their agribusinesses and the need to ensure the company has the leadership capacity and support in place as it pursues the emerging opportunities ahead.
New Zealand's role is not to compete with Indian growers, according to NZ Apples and Pears.
The potato industry is celebrating the success of two rising stars - James Blair, the 2026 Young Grower of the Year and runner-up and innovation award winner, Amber Davy.
Twenty-eight emerging leaders from across the horticulture sector spent two days last month learning valuable skills and connecting with industry experts.
There are five entrants in this year’s Young Horticulturist of the Year, competing in a series of technical, practical, business and leadership challenges.

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OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…