Fonterra signals major shake-up – Neal Wallace:
Fonterra has signaled the possibility of a major shake-up throughout its operations entailing job losses from senior management down.
Fonterra has signaled the possibility of a major shake-up throughout its operations entailing job losses from senior management down.
It today confirmed it had launched an in-depth review of its business, when questioned by the New Zealand Farmers Weekly. . .
Synlait’s tough road to riches – Neal Wallace:
Potential riches bypassing Synlait became apparent a year after the Canterbury company opened its milk drying plant.
Customers were buying powder to make their own infant formula and while Synlait had plans to eventually enter the added-value game, such was the demand for its powder and rate of international growth in formula, a strategy rethink was required, managing director John Penno said.
“It gave us an insight to the demand. We saw growth, we saw the market and we saw why they were coming to Synlait.” . . .
The great Kiwi earthworm survey:
AgResearch scientists want farmer help to better understand the distribution of one of the little known heroes of New Zealand agricultural production.
Earthworms play a vital role in the soil by decomposing organic matter, making nutrients available to plants and creating burrows in the soil to improve the movement of air and water. Studies have shown the introduction of surface-active earthworms improves annual pasture growth significantly as well as boosting environmental performance and extending the growing season. . .
Waipaoa Station Training Trust is holding an open day on June 6 and 7 as part of its selection of cadets for 2016.
The two-year cadet training scheme is based at Waipaoa Station, a commercial sheep and beef farm 70km from Gisborne.
Each year five new cadets are selected, to learn practical skills and sit in classroom lectures. The cadets live on the station. . .
New Zealand ‘brand’ not being seen:
Many overseas consumers are unaware their food originates in New Zealand, undermining attempts to promote our “clean and green” and premium brand image, a new study finds.
It shows there are significant opportunities for New Zealand premium consumer food and beverage products in overseas markets but we are missing out because we are not communicating to consumers.
“Maximising Export Returns; Communicating New Zealand’s credence attributes to international consumers”, by Lincoln University Agribusiness and Food Marketing Programme Director Nic Lees andAgribusiness and Economics Research Unit director Professor Caroline Saunders, finds having a visible label and a good relationship with industry buyers could improve the situation. . .
Growing knowledge through collaboration:
A collaborative workshop to help food producers gain specialist knowledge and skills was held at Lincoln University 27 May.
Entitled “Growing You”, it is part of a series covering topics such as sustainable weed management and sustainable pest and disease management, and was a joint effort of the University, MG Marketing, and the Lincoln-based Biological Husbandry Unit (BHU) and Bio-Protection Research Centre (BPRC).
MG Marketing is a co-operative organisation with over 90 years of growing, distributing and selling fresh vegetables and fruit. . .
TB rate collection to continue one more year:
Waikato Regional Council has today agreed to continue collecting the rate for the national bovine tuberculosis (TB) programme, but at a reduced amount of $500,000.
Only ratepayers with properties two hectares or greater in area will pay this rate, which will be 23 per cent less than in 2014/15.
In making its decision during the first day of 2015-2025 Long Term Plan deliberations, the council made it clear 2015/16 would be the last year it would collect the rate. . .
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