NEWS
Ministry bagged for carpet decision. PAGE 8
AGRIBUSINESS
A fertile future in governance.
PAGE 18
MANAGEMENT
Farmer is no chicken when it comes to decarbonising. PAGE 19
TO ALL FARMERS, FOR ALL FARMERS JULY 18, 2023: ISSUE 780
www.ruralnews.co.nz
Shareholder uproar! SUDESH KISSUN
sudeshk@ruralnews.co.nz
FONTERRA FARMERS are up in arms about plans to review its Farm Source retail business that could reduce faceto-face interaction with shareholders. On the New Zealand Dairy Farmers Facebook page, which has over 30,000 members, farmers have been venting their frustration on possible reductions of face-to-face support. It claims Fonterra intends to reduce the number of area managers from 45 to 20. Farmers are calling for Fonterra
to retain the current number of area managers. A Golden Bay farmer says their Fonterra local managers have “both been amazing, quick to respond and effective. “The next level up isn’t so good”. “I don’t think reducing the number of area managers is a good decision in the current time given how much uncertainty we are all dealing with,” complained another farmer. Another Waikato farmer says she spoke recently with a Fonterra director.
“There have been more calls to him on this than any other issue he’s had while on the board,” she says. Federated Farmers dairy section chair Richard McIntyre is aware of farmer concerns but points out that this is an issue for the Fonterra Cooperative Council to deal with. “I spoke to council chairman (John Stevenson) a couple of weeks ago and told him it was his issue to deal with,” McIntyre told Rural News. Stevenson says that questions on specific details of the proposal should be directed towards Fonterra manage-
ment. He says the council is not consulted on proposals between Fonterra and its staff. “We are not part of the decisionmaking process. Our role is to represent Fonterra farmers,” he says. But Stevenson confirmed that councillors have received a considerable amount of feedback from Fonterra farmers recently. “Council is actively communicating that farmer feedback and sentiment to the board.” Stevenson says over the last 18 months it has regularly provided feed-
back to the board and to management on the importance and expectation of face-to-face support for Fonterra farmers. He says support for Fonterra farmers is critical, especially during the current period of significant change. “Council is awaiting the outcome of this process before it can comment publicly in more detail.” Meanwhile, Fonterra has refused to comment more on the issue with a spokesperson telling Rural News the proposed changes are subject to consultation with their team.
A DONE DEAL!
Trade Minister Damien O’Connor signing the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and New Zealand earlier this month, alongside Valdis Dombrovskis (centre), executive vice-president of the European Commission and Marcos Alonso Alonso, Spanish permanent representative to the EU. The deal is yet to be ratified by the NZ Parliament and the parliaments of the 27 members of the EU. The main beneficiaries of the EU FTA will be the NZ kiwifruit, onions, honey, wine and seafood sectors, while meat and dairy have only gained minimal benefits. – See full story page 5.
PHOTO CREDIT: THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION.
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