Word of the day

Anticipointment – disappointment from something too eagerly looked forward to; the disappointment which follows anticipation when expectations were excessively high; the  state of mind resulting from excitedly anticipating a strongly promoted product, event, film, etc, and then being disappointed when it fails to meet the expectations generated by this promotion.

Thatcher thinks

The Socialist myth is that wealth is there to be redistributed. The truth is that wealth has to be created. pic.twitter.com/NH4pUBvE3Y

— Margaret Thatcher (@MrsMThatcher) November 15, 2023

Rural roundup

Mixed reaction to Fonterra’s move to cut greenhouse footprint  but research is finding answers – Point of Order :

Dairy group Fonterra got a mixed reaction to its plan to reduce  the greenhouse footprint of its milk products.

The announcement last week is the first time the co-op, the country’s biggest emitter, has set out the steps it wants  its farmers to take to reduce emissions. By  doing so,  the dairy  industry  can not only counter the criticism of lobby groups like Greenpeace but also meet the requirements of its biggest customers, including Nestlé and Danone,  who have introduced science-led climate goals.

Greenpeace Aotearoa responded to Fonterra’s announcement by saying the dairy giant’s proposed ‘climate roadmap’ is little more than “polishing a turd” because it contains no real measures to reduce emissions.

 Greenpeace regards Big Dairy as NZ’s worst  climate polluter. Its spokesperson, Christine Rose,  said the industry has been delaying action to cut climate pollution for far too long. . . 

Rural insurer pays out $228m – Sudesh Kissun :

Rural insurer FMG has paid out $228 million to communities impacted by two major weather-related events – Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.

FMG says it has acknowledged 80% of claims closed in response to the two events that make up the biggest job FMG has faced in its 118-year history and saw more claims received than from the Kaikōura and Canterbury earthquakes combined.

Payout for residential dwelling damages topped $85m while $30m was paid for damaged farm buildings.

Domestic content payout topped $22m, farm contents $9m and farm vehicles $5m. FMG’s recovery manager Jacqui McIntosh says that learning from the past and the company’s rural expertise has helped them to get money back into impacted communities faster than ever before. . . 

Alliance result disappointing – David Anderson :

Disappointing’ is how Alliance Group is describing its latest annual result.

The meat co-op has announced a loss before tax of $97.9 million for the year ending 30 September 2023 (FY2022 profit $116.3m) on a turnover of $2 billion (FY2022 $2.2b).

Chair Murray Taggart says the past year had been ‘extremely difficult’ for the company and farmers. “2023 is the 75th anniversary of the formation of Alliance, but it has not been a year to celebrate,” he says.

“This year’s loss is very disappointing, coming off last year’s record financial result.” . . .

Rams on cabbage tree hill pic.twitter.com/fZz0S2mQen

— Paul McGill ☘🐑🌳🐂🌾🏏🌽🌲♻️🏉🏇🏽🥐🥩🍻🧶🎾♥️🌏 (@PaulBMcGill) November 15, 2023

Losses prompt tough questions at Alliance – Neal Wallace :

Alliance Group has launched a review of the business after reporting a $97.9 million loss before tax for the 2022-23 year.

The result to September 30 represents a $214m turnaround from the previous year when it reported a record $116.3m profit.

Turnover also dropped, from $2.2 billion in 2021-22 to $2bn in 2022-23.

Shareholders were forewarned of the result during this year’s roadshows. . . 

Lower consumer prices welcomed but vegetable industry worried about future supply :

Vegetables New Zealand is welcoming lower consumer prices but is worried about future supply, given all the challenges vegetable growers are facing.

‘It’s great that we’re currently in a period where vegetable supply is good, thanks to growers planting more and the weather supporting great spring growth,’ says Vegetables NZ chair, John Murphy.

‘However, growers remain under enormous pressure due to increasing input costs, mounting regulation, skilled labour shortages, and a business environment that does not support expansion.

‘If these pressures cannot be reversed, New Zealanders will not be able to enjoy fresh, healthy vegetables at reasonable prices in the future, because more and more growers will exit the industry, reducing supply. . .

https://twitter.com/Dayzie72/status/1723988708997976257/

 

Farmlands sights are firmly set on future growth despite a challenging year :

Farmlands has released its 2023 Annual Report. It emphasises the rural supplies co-op’s focus on backing its core farmers and growers in a difficult operating environment, while also setting the co-op up for long-term success as a rural market leader in rural supplies, fuel, animal health, nutrition, agronomy and horticulture.

Kiwi farmers and growers are facing high interest rates, inflation, increased compliance costs and lower farm-gate prices. In addition, natural events such as Cyclone Gabrielle have had a tremendous impact on many rural communities. In response, Farmlands has clarified its focus around two core objectives.

“First and foremost, right now we need to be supporting our customers with their core farm inputs. We know it’s incredibility tough out there and we must compete hard for our customers – by winning on a combination of price, product availability, service and advice. We also must remain focused on our future goal of being the number-one buying group for New Zealand farmers and growers,” said Farmlands Chair, Rob Hewett. . . 

Should Rue Nouvelle Zelande be Rue Aotearoa?

Le Quesnoy is a French town with very close links to New Zealand in recognition of its liberation from German occupation by Kiwi soldiers in 1918.

It is home to the newly opened New Zealand Liberation Museum.

There’s a memorial:

And there is a Rue Nouvelle Zelande, which used to be New Zealand Street but is now Rue Aotearoa, explained in smaller print as La Terre du long nuage blanc. 

I wonder who decided that the street name should be translated as Aotearoa rather than New Zealand, when did the name change happen and does it matter and should it stay that way?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has erased Te Reo Māori  from some official use, will the street name revert back to New Zealand too?