Sharemilkers vital, new section chairman says – Sally Rae:
A new farming leader believes sharemilkers are a vital part of New Zealand’s dairy industry.
Grant Tremewan has been elected as the North Otago Federated Farmers sharemilkers’ section chairman. He is passionate about sharemilking being retained as a viable pathway into farming and valued for its contribution.
”It’s the competitive advantage of the dairy industry, where much of its productivity and innovation comes from.
”I want to see sharemilkers treated fairly . .
Beingmate has muted Fonterra’s Chinese hum – Point of Order:
Fonterra is “humming” in China, according to a headline in the NZ Herald, although the text of the article beneath it mentioned the “woes” associated with the co-op’s investment in Beingmate.
The co-op is having to absorb an impairment of $405m on the value of its 18.8% holding in Beingmate. On top of the $183m payment it has had to make French giant Danone, the writedown takes the gloss off that otherwise “humming” performance.
Some of its farmer-shareholders may be looking over the fence to the rather different outcome for A2 Milk, which lifted its annual sales 68% in the June year, with revenue rising from $549m in the June 2017 year to $922m. During the latest year A2 Milk achieved gross margins up to 49%. . .
Nationwide coproducts business Wallace Group today announced it had extended operations in Southland with the addition of a Mataura processing site, requiring around 20 seasonal contractors and 30 seasonal staff.
Wallace Group Chief Executive Officer, Graham Shortland says, “We’re very pleased to have extended our presence in Southland. The recycling of coproducts from the agricultural sector performs a valuable service for farmers and processors as well as protecting the natural environment from the impact of dead stock. . .
Otago/Southland named best Young Farmers’ region:
Otago/Southland has been named the country’s best NZ Young Farmers region.
The region’s members cheered excitedly when the award was announced in Invercargill.
“Our clubs are welcoming and well connected which ensures lots of interclub activities,” he said.
Marlborough wine – protecting and promoting the real deal:
A new initiative has been launched to safeguard Marlborough’s wine reputation and Lawson’s Dry Hills is among the first to jump on board.
The protection of ‘brand Marlborough’ has been under discussion for some years but with the proliferation of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc labels over recent times, a group of key industry people led by Ivan Sutherland of Dog Point Vineyards, have been spurred into action. . .
Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2018 announced:
Congratulations to Ben Richards from Indevin who became the Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2018 on Friday 13th July.
This is the second consecutive year Richards has competed in the National Final, however he was representing Hawke’s Bay in 2017 as he was working at Indevin’s vineyards there and finishing his degree at EIT. At the start of this year he was promoted to Viticultural Technician for Indevin and moved to Marlborough, so is delighted to represent his new region in this year’s National Final. , ,
Honey venture big winner at North Maori business awards:
The efforts of a 100 percent Maori-owned company specialising in manuka honey production have been recognised with two awards, including the coveted Taitokerau Maori Business of the Year award.
Kaitaia-based Tai Tokerau Honey was named overall winner, as well as securing the Northland Regional Council’s Excellence in Environmental Awareness and Management category, when the business awards were held in Whangarei recently. .
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