tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76373252704175401082024-03-05T21:51:18.975+13:00FarmgirlA forum on all things agricultural and political.Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-39670010830573302942009-10-28T09:56:00.005+13:002009-10-28T10:10:50.147+13:00UK Lord seriously recommending turning veggie to save the planet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXgYFz8qc-Gc_J_nkwgD9r6l2eH25O6XpGNgpG9hHzu378hgmxMsCEbh4wDZmsYGAy3kVwawN7KMa6xSAAPBsaX7ptQaIl1QeKxqu6lETbfw08JqdOCwwDh4tKG7RJCIjpw0aFdIqg8o/s1600-h/stern.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397390134106879762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 257px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXgYFz8qc-Gc_J_nkwgD9r6l2eH25O6XpGNgpG9hHzu378hgmxMsCEbh4wDZmsYGAy3kVwawN7KMa6xSAAPBsaX7ptQaIl1QeKxqu6lETbfw08JqdOCwwDh4tKG7RJCIjpw0aFdIqg8o/s320/stern.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It really is frightening when British Government is influenced by the likes of Lord Nicholas Stern, a so called 'academic' and economist who authored the highly influential Stern Review on the economics of climate change.</div><br /><div>The man is now suggesting seriously that we all turn veggie - and he has some support for his manic views. </div><br /><div>This from Farmers Weekly UK:</div><br /><div><br /><em>People should stop eating meat to help the world conquer climate change, a leading scientist has warned.<br />"Meat is a wasteful use of water and creates a lot of greenhouse gases," said Lord Stern of Brentford.<br />"It puts enormous pressure on the world's resources. A vegetarian diet is better."<br />Lord Stern's comments are significant because he is the author of the influential </em><a href="http://www.occ.gov.uk/activities/stern.htm"><em>2006 Stern Review</em></a><em> on the cost of tackling global warming.<br />'A global agreement to tackle climate change would result in soaring costs for meat and other foods that generate large quantities of greenhouse gases, he said.<br />People's attitudes would evolve until meat eating became unacceptable, Lord Stern predicted.<br />"I think it's important that people think about what they are doing and that includes what they are eating," he said.<br />Lord Stern made the comments in a </em><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6891362.ece"><em>front-page interview with The Times</em></a><em>.<br /></em><em>The article has attracted more than 283 comments from internet readers.<br />"Eating a vegetarian diet is a lot cheaper than a meat one," wrote Jonte Jay.<br />"Let's face it - the most expensive foods on the average families shopping lists are meat and dairy."<br />Peter Radcliffe wrote: "Those who refuse to give up eating meat are contributing significantly to the destruction of the planet."<br />But most comments were far less sympathetic.<br />Nicholas Fox wrote: "Tell me I'm having a bad dream and not really living in such a ridiculous country."<br />Reuben Camara wrote: "Forget methane. There is far more hot air emitting from parasite Lord Stern's mouth than can possibly be good for the planet."</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>When this kind of myth starts to get traction you know that we are in trouble. It is now time to address some of the balderdash being spouted and to fight back. Our Government has already in principle agreed that agriculture is helping contribute to the problem. It really is only a slippery slope from there to what Lord Stern is suggesting. Why are we not standing up to this?</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-59147444604864317652009-10-28T09:30:00.005+13:002009-10-28T09:45:36.378+13:00Ferrier's paycut a timely warning to other agricultural businesses<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzFw1sZETP5SWeCX3xe2B7qlxsbs1tDq-XoKy-Wc9jgPp6_9mch5InADgUxl4eXW1ZWUOrqsvWOYVX4X3k5F_fbqGI1e16KWlSsq8tt5C5L1euv997Vm4Ipp2VAZ6WNp4cv3m54Xl3s/s1600-h/AndrewFerrier_300x200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397383516441445890" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 199px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnzFw1sZETP5SWeCX3xe2B7qlxsbs1tDq-XoKy-Wc9jgPp6_9mch5InADgUxl4eXW1ZWUOrqsvWOYVX4X3k5F_fbqGI1e16KWlSsq8tt5C5L1euv997Vm4Ipp2VAZ6WNp4cv3m54Xl3s/s320/AndrewFerrier_300x200.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well done Fonterra and well done Andrew Ferrier on taking a whopping great pay cut of $360 000 even if his salary is in the realms of fantasy at $3.62 million a year. </div><br /><div>When you look at it on paper, three million seems a heck of a lot to pay the figurehead of an organisation, but converted to US dollars it's paltry compared to what he could get working elsewhere in the world, especially it seems, in a recession.</div><br /><div>Have a read of this blog written by Rick Newman in the US regarding the trend upwards of CEO salaries in the States despite the gloomy economic conditions:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><em>It's good to be CEO, even in a recession. Especially in a recession.<br />Hewlett-Packard's stock price fell 29 percent in 2008, and the company announced plans to lay off 25,000 workers after it acquired Electronic Data Systems. But CEO Mark Hurd didn't feel the pain. Hurd earned $43 million in 2008, a 73 percent raise from his 2007 pay. Perks included $136,000 worth of personal travel on corporate jets, paid for by shareholders, and $7,472 in travel expenses for Hurd's family, according to an </em><a href="http://www.thestreet.com/story/10601820/1/h-p-hurds-pay-troubling-activist.html" target="_new"><em>analysis of HP's annual proxy filings</em></a><em> by shareholder activist Eric Jackson. Several other top HP executives earning multimillion-dollar pay got double- or triple-digit raises.</em><a id="read_more"></a><br /><em>[See </em><a href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/flowchart/2009/09/03/10-gaffes-by-doomed-ceos.html"><em>10 gaffes by doomed CEOs.</em></a><em>]<br />Hurd has been a strong CEO since he took over in 2005, generally credited with enhancing HP's profitability after a period of drift. But the big pay hikes during a dismal year are generating some of the toughest criticism of Hurd's tenure. "There are some very troubling aspects about how he, his management team and his board approach executive compensation and governance," </em><a href="http://www.thestreet.com/story/10601820/1/h-p-hurds-pay-troubling-activist.html" target="_new"><em>writes Jackson</em></a><em>. "Investors should steer clear of this Silicon Valley icon until it gets its act together."<br />For all the talk of reining in CEO pay and enacting financial reform—even from some CEOs themselves—it's beginning to appear that very little has changed in the way companies are run and executives get paid. A </em><a href="http://www.thecorporatelibrary.com/info.php?id=76" target="_new"><em>new survey of CEO pay</em></a><em> by research firm the Corporate Library finds that median take-home pay among more than 2,000 CEOs fell by 6.4 percent from 2007 to 2008, the first time on record that CEO pay has gone down instead of up. But that was in a year in which the stock market fell by 37 percent and the economy lost 2.6 million jobs. By almost every measure, the vast majority of companies performed far worse in 2008 than in 2007. "While the downturn has affected pay, the link between pay and performance remains weak," says the </em><a href="http://www.thecorporatelibrary.com/info.php?id=76" target="_new"><em>report</em></a><em>. "Such a minimal decline in pay given the massive decline in shareholder value is hardly an adequate response."<br />A surprising number of CEOs didn't personally experience the downturn at all. Of 100 industries tracked by the Corporate Library, median CEO pay went up in 40. The 10 highest-paid CEOs included seven from the oil industry, which had a banner year as gasoline prices hit $4 per gallon. The others were Stephen Schwarzman of the Blackstone Group, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and Michael Jeffries of Abercrombie & Fitch. Schwarzman earned the most: $702 million. No. 10 Jeffries earned $72 million.<br />[See </em><a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2009/09/22/how-to-pay-ceos-what-theyre-worth"><em>how to pay CEOs what they're worth</em></a><em>.]<br />Reformers want to see much tougher rules linking executive pay to the long-term performance of their companies, and a few CEOs took a step in this direction. Lloyd Blankfein of Goldman Sachs endured a 97 percent pay cut in 2008, because the tony Wall Street firm rescinded bonuses for top executives. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase went without a bonus as well, resulting in a 92 percent pay cut. But both of those companies were big bailout recipients under the microscope of politicians and regulators. And both have paid back all their bailout money, which means Blankfein and Dimon will probably do a bit better in 2009.<br />[Get ready for </em><a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2009/09/16/coming-soon-the-miraculous-hollow-economy"><em>the miraculous hollow economy</em></a><em>!]<br />It's likely that overall CEO pay will bounce right back up in 2009 as well. Many CEOs earn a relatively low base salary, with the majority of their total compensation coming from bonuses, company stock, or options to buy stock. The plunge in the stock market last year means the value of CEO-owned stock fell as well, and many CEOs declined to exercise options to sell stock since prices were so low. That has changed in 2009, with the market up smartly. It could even turn out to be a record year for CEO pay raises, as they springboard off of last year's lows. At least somebodies getting ahead.</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So good on Fonterra for insisting on a performance based salary. It's just a shame that some of our other agricultural companies are not using the same standard for their bosses and their board sitters...Farmgirl can think of one such fertiliser company that would and should be rife for a pay cut!</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-73493637571857831862009-10-28T09:16:00.002+13:002009-10-28T09:21:29.070+13:00Farmgirl on Farming Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGr7oNZtK0HA1G3vDMemIThosmz8sKGVvN3eG44egXwX_9L1AINmb4WEFswKwhiQ9Qjrv_WU3F6wXJ7zcLvEuIj-F_GKbRDkTs1zUDKJhLPJ2WH8G7vuNGUjyLHSCcPHwvUHDhXOlnO0/s1600-h/jamiemackay.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397377296676004562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 202px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 160px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGr7oNZtK0HA1G3vDMemIThosmz8sKGVvN3eG44egXwX_9L1AINmb4WEFswKwhiQ9Qjrv_WU3F6wXJ7zcLvEuIj-F_GKbRDkTs1zUDKJhLPJ2WH8G7vuNGUjyLHSCcPHwvUHDhXOlnO0/s320/jamiemackay.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>To listen to Farmgirl's latest chat with Jamie Mackay on the Farming Show follow this link: <a href="http://www.farmingshow.com/farming221009.html">http://www.farmingshow.com/farming221009.html</a></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-50834776808043921072009-10-22T10:14:00.003+13:002009-10-22T10:29:46.686+13:00Dollar for dollar with US a looming catatrosphe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdalD4LEiK0PCYjvmAy8aTj3ebG837vwK1rS6i5NLkKlDY5-UQWsALGTiRUKQz5GVPAS_-vMC_Uins_2osnNi-lwb-G0H37dxaAiuEdw0XKi9sYetd65lsL1vhwTDS_IwCDxC5buqZMog/s1600-h/allan+bollard.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395168453506059026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdalD4LEiK0PCYjvmAy8aTj3ebG837vwK1rS6i5NLkKlDY5-UQWsALGTiRUKQz5GVPAS_-vMC_Uins_2osnNi-lwb-G0H37dxaAiuEdw0XKi9sYetd65lsL1vhwTDS_IwCDxC5buqZMog/s320/allan+bollard.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>When banking commentator Bernard Hickey said it was not out of the question for the New Zealand dollar to match the greenback in the near future, you could hear the collective Prozac popping among exporters.</div><br /><div>Surely Hickey is talking balderdash? But hey, it's okay, he went on to say jubilantly, because it's great news for anyone going overseas or buying consumer products.</div><br /><div>What was he thinking?</div><br /><div>There won't be a country if his dire prediction comes true. There could be no worse economic disaster in this country's history than if our dollar did match the US. All the talk of recession over the past year would be like a bad day at the races in comparison to what would happen in that situation.</div><br /><div>It is difficult for the farming fraternity to hear comments such as these when the squeeze is going back on with the Kiwi climbing through the 76 cent mark.</div><br /><div>As for Bollard's comments last night that the high dollar was not an impediment to future interest rate hikes, you could only squirm, knowing that will give overseas investors the confidence to keep investing and therefore push the dollar up further. </div><br /><div>Just what we needed Mr Bollard...well done... </div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-70692821055490452632009-10-22T09:50:00.003+13:002009-10-22T10:14:15.221+13:00Throw the bunnies!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5p2R-nobrsuOhqh4Lt-dOYFPwRo26Uolk6UCkAGyEn6mT1YhSBVgkEfoPi8ZVN3H9KVvPpGaIfctFyAih6_ijM0GSiiurQEgiWvot-x48rV7FAkxgYvad4YZXmYseJT7t958A_1PvX8/s1600-h/bunny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395164420015352066" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 94px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5p2R-nobrsuOhqh4Lt-dOYFPwRo26Uolk6UCkAGyEn6mT1YhSBVgkEfoPi8ZVN3H9KVvPpGaIfctFyAih6_ijM0GSiiurQEgiWvot-x48rV7FAkxgYvad4YZXmYseJT7t958A_1PvX8/s320/bunny.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>For **** sake! If New Zealand rated on a political correctness scale (Farmgirl's pet hate) we would be number one in the world, but sadly it's not an accolade we want.</div><br /><div>The latest debacle featuring the SPCA who have stood in and spoilt the farm kiddies fun at the annual Waiau pig hunting weekend by outlawing dead bunny throwing is enough to have you bashing a bunnies head against the proverbial brick wall.</div><br /><div>Look, it may not be everyone's cuppa, but that doesn't mean that it should go by the wayside. The trouble is that if we bow down to the SPCA animal welfare aficionados it is going to get worse. So go ahead Waiau - THROW THOSE BUNNIES.</div><br /><div>Farmgirl doesn't claim to be the brightest in the den, but heck, even she knows when a rabbit is dead, it can't feel anything, contrary to the namby pamby office sitters that seem to make up SPCA these days.</div><br /><div>Imagine what these idiots were like as kids. If the cat caught a mouse, they made you spend all your pocket money on getting the vet to operate, because the poor minced up mouse deserved better than to end its life in the intestines of your pet. They were the type of kids you could never take out to the farm. They hyperventilated when they saw the pile of lambs tails at the end of the tailing pen, and vomited when they saw a bird eating an insect.</div><br /><div>Are we now saying that we are not allowed to swing lambs around to help them breathe when they are born, even though it saves their lives? </div><br /><div>Come on Waiau...THROW THOSE BUNNIES and fight back for all of us sane people in this crazy country...but make sure won't you, as parents, that your children don't play with their sausages or chops at the dinner table before they eat them...it's cruelty don't you know!</div><br /><div></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-39033730637833003852009-10-10T15:16:00.004+13:002009-10-10T15:31:11.420+13:00Nobel Peace Prize right on the money<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBwX8uY6Ga7ILZiOEsU3zc2WZV-ELTj_z1GFtrFOqxSc_rS3JyN1O1Ptg8Kpg0ywXPzWm0153L0P02yiW6UykEwiq9D-V4fZa4c4RAMfOdmXGvnJuH0rpcZXyxQZrykSbQVaVS2B-NcE/s1600-h/obama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390792737568588098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBwX8uY6Ga7ILZiOEsU3zc2WZV-ELTj_z1GFtrFOqxSc_rS3JyN1O1Ptg8Kpg0ywXPzWm0153L0P02yiW6UykEwiq9D-V4fZa4c4RAMfOdmXGvnJuH0rpcZXyxQZrykSbQVaVS2B-NcE/s320/obama.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Farmgirl</span> is one of the few that think US President Barack Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. </div><br /><div>Sure, there's thousands of candidates out there who have swam 100 miles through crocodile infested waters, survived under a hail of bullets and rescued millions of starving children. No, I'm not taking the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">mickey</span> but I am saying that the judges got it right because they awarded the one thing that is not quantifiable, not easily seen, nor able to be scored on a human rights ledger - they recognised the value of HOPE.</div><br /><div>That many are critical of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Obama's</span> victory show how materialistic this world has become. Unless someone is starving to death for a cause and giving us a visual recount of suffering, we can't connect the dots. We seem to only understand the concrete.</div><br /><div>Yet there was one thing we understood last year...one day where it wasn't about the visual, where we felt good, where unity abounded. Don't deny it..<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Obama's</span> Presidential win made you feel good because it meant that there was HOPE - hope that we might solve this religious mess, hope that we might overcome the obstacles we see in other human beings who might not look like us (ironically, his win was about overcoming the visual). </div><br /><div>You might think then that we as the people deserve the prize for getting him there, but you have to look at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Obama's</span> extraordinary journey. He dispenses the HOPE and is working for a bigger cause than you and I...he's working for a peaceful solution, a listening America and just because he hasn't got down in the swamps and saved the many that are drowning in the poorer countries, it doesn't make his journey any less <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">award able</span>.</div><br /><div>It took courage for the judges to choose him...just as it takes courage every day for him to be in the highest office in the world. </div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-58023045967129276882009-09-30T16:25:00.004+13:002009-09-30T16:46:22.317+13:00Key's 'Eva Peron' tour of the States avoiding the emissions issue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ASMWzx31Bzh332o4x0jdtLLVSC2MNQytHVovhUwiQPziOhHD3iKzVw2BRRj0n33U_LuBV-7V_w5o6q-qHAX6bUq9lCg8ZqkGllezOp7hFgGsT9Q8Ro06rhBal3bRAFMW0LbMHfG3C0/s1600-h/john+key+barack+obama.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387101684800700370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26ASMWzx31Bzh332o4x0jdtLLVSC2MNQytHVovhUwiQPziOhHD3iKzVw2BRRj0n33U_LuBV-7V_w5o6q-qHAX6bUq9lCg8ZqkGllezOp7hFgGsT9Q8Ro06rhBal3bRAFMW0LbMHfG3C0/s320/john+key+barack+obama.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>You'll have to excuse farmers if John Key's much trumpeted speech in New York last week declaring that Kiwis would lead a global research initiative to cut greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture doesn't leave them braying with joy.</div><br /><div>It's not that they don't like the cheerful little fellow...it's just that he's so damn blatantly desperate to have New Zealand leading the world at something, that he's blindly about to all but sink our economy.</div><br /><div>And no - those sentiments are not unrealistic. It is incredulous to think that the Government of the day would commit a country that is banking on its agriculture sector, into an emissions trading scheme that would see the same sector heavily penalised.</div><br /><div>It all smacks of that 'little fish' chip on the shoulder we seem to carry around as Kiwis. If we're not at the forefront of everything (think mountaineering, women's vote...domestic violence) then we'll push our way forward, puff out the shoulders and say 'we'll do it mate', even if it does mean less money in the economy, slow economic growth and the difference between profitability and quitting the farm. </div><br /><div>Isn't that what asking for a seat on the UN security council was all about after all?</div><br /><div>And in all of it there is a distinct immaturity about our attitude, a need to be the teachers pet and to receive adulation from other countries who are not dumb enough to sign their countries to a death warrant.</div><br /><div>What happened to the Lange 'up yours' nuclear ethos? Since when did we try to brown nose everyone? </div><br /><div>Forget leading the world in research John boy, and sink that money into other agricultural research that scientists are clamouring to do...you know, the kind that puts more money in our pockets - yours and ours. </div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-10277381322878501052009-09-30T13:14:00.006+13:002009-09-30T13:26:53.190+13:00Ravensdown claim backdown over PKE but haven't gone far enough<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBwmhn5vdSgUUZ9ZyJVwd2AD8S1AMkE4EcD36zmSvMTWNuqS26GHZmDBmfn0GnLzZ98G0ndmr8wfMZE-AIY17iePZIHCk2ucVR3xZkSQj1zYd5LLc5JMNlyFYYLW3GvjVGe8ewObtrAA/s1600-h/robber1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387050311112311426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBwmhn5vdSgUUZ9ZyJVwd2AD8S1AMkE4EcD36zmSvMTWNuqS26GHZmDBmfn0GnLzZ98G0ndmr8wfMZE-AIY17iePZIHCk2ucVR3xZkSQj1zYd5LLc5JMNlyFYYLW3GvjVGe8ewObtrAA/s320/robber1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today the PR spinners were busy again, convincing arable farmers that Ravensdown are pulling out of the South Island animal nutrition market due to continuing 'negative' feedback. However, they claim this was in the face of 'overwhelming support'. Which was it then? - negative feedback or overwhelming support? Farmgirl is confused.</div><br /><div>But besides this point there is another. The South Island market was small and the meetings where Ravensdown claimed support were about selling PKE into the North Island. It is still many arable farmers contention that Ravensdown should not be importing PKE into any of New Zealand. The North Island market is still undercutting arable suppliers. Therefore the backdown today from Ravensdown is nothing but a PR ploy and is not worth the paper it is written on.</div><br /><div>For goodness sakes, if you can understand how damaging this has been, boys, to your reputation as the small concession today recognises, then surely you can extend the hand further and stop bringing in PKE altogether. </div><br /><div>Questions still need to be answered as well...if they are promoting a 50/50 percent blend of PKE and barley why is it that they have only taken 6500 tonnes of barley. If you do the maths they sold 50 000 tonnes of the mix last year - doesn't look as though that barley made up 50% does it?</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-43015889195254949932009-09-30T13:01:00.005+13:002009-09-30T13:13:57.384+13:00Farmers and Fonterra need to be tougher on those practising calf cruelty<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDke0rFpgTbZDsI7pLIRFPxDrCJ9PAaYPArvRunClc566OK8bziGAdYl2TI5mBi7Wrh5ScrDVRNC653w0IbjkUA5ZWfsgciY8IfgMZlg2AYy6lrX_-g8vN1NXPmZk-XyvhHH4EtLpg2U/s1600-h/cow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387046858931637106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 106px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDke0rFpgTbZDsI7pLIRFPxDrCJ9PAaYPArvRunClc566OK8bziGAdYl2TI5mBi7Wrh5ScrDVRNC653w0IbjkUA5ZWfsgciY8IfgMZlg2AYy6lrX_-g8vN1NXPmZk-XyvhHH4EtLpg2U/s320/cow.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Whether or not MAF finds there is a case to answer of calf cruelty on a Fonterra supplier's farm in the King Country, Fonterra must move quickly to get rid of any taint on their reputation.</div><br /><div>The problem is not isolated. Farmgirl knows of a farm in the South Island that had been practising abhorrent standards for many years on a large scale, and had even lost thousands of calves due to neglect, ignorance and incredibly harsh, cruel conditions.</div><br /><div>Not only does Fonterra have a need to act, but so does the farming industry in general. Hiding these cowboys when we all know what is going on and not speaking up for fear of retribution will only backfire in the long run.</div><br /><div>For an industry to thrive on its wholesome image, it needs farmers to keep an eye out for mistreatment or any practices that could threaten their bottom line.</div><br /><div>van der Heyden was right to call on authorities to mount a full scale inquiry into the Crafar farm but he needs to do more. Suspension (in this case there was video footage that he found alarming) as a supplier must happen if proven guilty and a check performed regularly by Fonterra to ensure they are treating their animals better.</div><br /><div>Expanding too fast is not an excuse for poor treatment, nor is ignorance. Unfortunately it is not just the Crafars out there damaging the industry, and it's up too us all to stop it.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-51323176825474566622009-09-28T15:37:00.003+13:002009-09-28T15:46:48.179+13:00Feds to the rescue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lk4YvpXayeqhRjbdh6DSQuEr16MVlkp22NLNyErpCFSE7YdZKKr98n6s-Fv9t7OGCnHVvdNsrXFHXn_APqM_jzYRSh2uxbBZBZEscYjWsIWVdk_IJPyctsDy6Wve9mI4TrZMbZsKWyA/s1600-h/ambulance.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386344209691844530" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 94px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lk4YvpXayeqhRjbdh6DSQuEr16MVlkp22NLNyErpCFSE7YdZKKr98n6s-Fv9t7OGCnHVvdNsrXFHXn_APqM_jzYRSh2uxbBZBZEscYjWsIWVdk_IJPyctsDy6Wve9mI4TrZMbZsKWyA/s320/ambulance.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>And the handshake of the week goes to Ian Morten, the Federated Farmers Grain and Seed Chairperson for his and the Feds concerted and continued effort to squash PKE imports. </div><br /><div>Farmgirl has already voiced her opinions on PKE and how it continues to undermine arable farmers' bottom lines, as well as present a significant risk to all of our industries.</div><br /><div>Ian's call this week to report any foreign matter in PKE reminds us all of how ridiculous the entire situation is. The Feds have received 'anecdotal evidence' of insects, soil etc being present in the mix, although MAFBNZ claim there hasn't been any substantial risks so far...</div><br /><div>Why are we waiting at the bottom of the cliff with our arms wide open rather than blocking the fall?</div><br /><div>It seems simple. PKE presents a risk - get rid of it and support our local cockies instead of their overseas counterparts.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-24781001567526991412009-09-28T15:25:00.002+13:002009-09-28T15:32:32.107+13:00Farmgirl back online<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZacE-GKceDm2jFeN9g6RstaaX7FXBfhwkwMIbSbypXry7M6ffORMgaM0X8goHfpnUqQUHDaWQPGmnypqv_q4alsgLNJ8xYFR2bd2AobNJ4KRKcpYvaZNo6yyzrCzN0KaFhyphenhyphenLK8vQozg/s1600-h/mural+belfast.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386340363373079154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 275px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZacE-GKceDm2jFeN9g6RstaaX7FXBfhwkwMIbSbypXry7M6ffORMgaM0X8goHfpnUqQUHDaWQPGmnypqv_q4alsgLNJ8xYFR2bd2AobNJ4KRKcpYvaZNo6yyzrCzN0KaFhyphenhyphenLK8vQozg/s320/mural+belfast.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Farmgirl is now back online after a maternity break and has plenty to write about. Much has been happening in between, including some interesting new developments with PKE, Ravensdown's annual report and of course our rock star PM making the rounds in America, still looking like the nerdy boy at primary school who just topped the spelling bee!</div><br /><div>Be sure to keep the discussion and comments coming.</div><br /><div></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-65202339203857888182009-08-03T12:11:00.003+12:002009-08-03T12:25:00.292+12:00Farmgirl on maternity leave but has new important questions for RavensdownFarmgirl will be offline for a short time due to maternity requirements, but wants Ravensdown shareholders to consider the following, while waiting for the figures from annual accounts to come out:<br /><br />1 How is it that if Ballance suffered significantly in the past year due to the global environment and has decided it can't afford to pay a rebate, that Ravensdown is claiming a much stronger balance sheet (again) and paying a rebate. Where is the money for that rebate coming from?<br /><br />2 Have Ravensdown broken banking covenants and if so how much has that cost shareholders over the past year?<br /><br />3 What is the debt to equity ratio of Ravensdown now - that is what counts. Pay attention to the level of borrowing and whether foreign exchange earnings is what is paying for rebates rather than profit.Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-34916517971944553112009-07-15T08:43:00.003+12:002009-07-15T09:04:37.858+12:00Silver Fern Farms money raising a thinly veiled glossover of Richmond fiasco<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01cETErYTAmfiVYDfK2ThhbSYAZdEtxbnl6MMz8z61V3nSQ6dorBb-Z09wIt8ZuJZemeZRPpXxWk7K2WqssDRF2_CNeULR-t0tRWmAr1RfwWb0Vzup2ybtatbWUZIDWHIZVfVQK2NmJA/s1600-h/keith.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358424671303476834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 83px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 104px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01cETErYTAmfiVYDfK2ThhbSYAZdEtxbnl6MMz8z61V3nSQ6dorBb-Z09wIt8ZuJZemeZRPpXxWk7K2WqssDRF2_CNeULR-t0tRWmAr1RfwWb0Vzup2ybtatbWUZIDWHIZVfVQK2NmJA/s320/keith.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>You have to feel for SFF shareholders. Now CEO Keith Cooper is asking them to stump up with $128 million, apparently in the name of forward progress in the UK consumer market.</div><br /><div>Their hard fought co-operative, designed to protect their interests is fast becoming what they term a 'hybrid co-operative'. The translation for that is a co-operative moving away from what it was designed for and if this share restructuring goes ahead you would have to assume that it is only a matter of time before outside shareholders gain some status in the company, even if Cooper is promising that won't happen now.</div><br /><div>But why do the restructuring in the first place?</div><br /><div>Overcommitment. </div><br /><div>First SFF tries to wrangle the money out of PGG Wrightson, now it's talking all this lovely juvely touchy feely rubbish about needing to be a 'fully integrated market-led company'. Come on, it all looks a bit desperate and more than a little co-incidental in the light of the lack of cash injection from the failed merger with PGG.</div><br /><div>Wouldn't it be fantastic if the PR doctors just for once let go of the spin and spoke the honest truth. In SFF's case the statement would read something like this:<br />"SFF would like to advise that it is charging farmers an extra $128 million in shares and will be trying to find outside investors as well, due to the balls up it made several years ago when those in charge decided that SFF should buy Richmond at all costs. Because of this SFF has been in the poo financially for some time and as you know PGG Wrightson didn't end up joining the party so you, our loyal shareholders will have to foot the bill. But don't worry...we won't sell your co-operative rights down the road just yet...after all farmers are our business...and consumers...flashy UK consumers..."</div><br /><div>Farmgirl hopes that SFF farmer shareholders voice their concerns over the restructuring as it is more than a little flawed.</div><br /><div>It's funny isn't it how CEO's and directors are paid to go into a company and grow the business and make it financially stronger, yet end up making it bigger and weaker...think US companies answering to DC at the moment. The NZ example in agriculture is not as far apart from that as we might like to think...</div><br /><div></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-19023651690402702772009-07-09T09:22:00.004+12:002009-07-09T09:31:43.608+12:00Farmers tired of hearing the same old speel from the top<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_yqYaUPhsYywQlMVgpqyXXdjB88NZVgePeehHw6F34hZ4jb8wm2fzMye4GNNE_n1F-XqyjqIiLuls6kqvGVZ5l4-EV-9w6iOumzlY6dKOmrcu4QkBAG38zGTmo-HdjJvSY9Riu3KvRs/s1600-h/carter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204813037916114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_yqYaUPhsYywQlMVgpqyXXdjB88NZVgePeehHw6F34hZ4jb8wm2fzMye4GNNE_n1F-XqyjqIiLuls6kqvGVZ5l4-EV-9w6iOumzlY6dKOmrcu4QkBAG38zGTmo-HdjJvSY9Riu3KvRs/s320/carter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Farmgirl was more than a little dismissive of David Carter's speech to the Federated Farmers conference this week.</div><br /><div>He told us to, "adopt new ideas, abandon old ways of thinking and embrace different farming methods"...blah, blah, blah.</div><br /><div>This sentence has been trotted out by every agricultural minister since butter was churned by hand. It means nothing and it's not helpful.</div><br /><div>When will Carter and his fellow ministers realise that this kind of talk is nothing but condescending as it suggests today's farmers are slow on the uptake and are not looking towards the future.</div><br /><div>Farmgirl suggests it's not farmers who need to embrace different methods but more the companies that represent them and the politicians who continue to impede progress by whacking on costs at the farm gate year in, year out with thinly veiled bureaucracy - Kyoto being one such example.</div><br /><div>Mr Carter and others that repeat these meaningless phrases (Anderton was equally as good at that - his tongue could roll off thousands of them in a week) regarding the need for farmers to adopt new ideas would do well to visit the Young Farmer Contest in Palmerston North today and talk to this latest generation of farmers. Farmgirl thinks they would teach him a thing or two.</div><br /><div></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-42071883161151334362009-07-09T09:07:00.008+12:002009-07-09T09:15:47.874+12:00Light Relief - the whoopsies that the camera caught!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMCoq1q6PdNaqfstaizEyFJUJgQb_CWoT5-YEwBGhqdhqgeG4zq4qnJaUCWvS7Tr8YIrcv1HKOpLFBDBfnzk2WEcee1P6hRe42W0KF2Z3AvEigpE93LIGsDh7rui4ssFBLboWySGBmis/s1600-h/dickhead6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356200302067260898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMCoq1q6PdNaqfstaizEyFJUJgQb_CWoT5-YEwBGhqdhqgeG4zq4qnJaUCWvS7Tr8YIrcv1HKOpLFBDBfnzk2WEcee1P6hRe42W0KF2Z3AvEigpE93LIGsDh7rui4ssFBLboWySGBmis/s320/dickhead6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc69Wa1HOWS05ZxISnAL3sjtRfGPaFH8cK7Ol6hi_4cb3ZzgDw6afTxSSIZFLUV8Z6SRW3zDn5vzI07VvzLVF2ehdcOmsTioaa3GPqGh83S3urfxc08t400jVi59Be79PiTM9xjQlBWpY/s1600-h/dickhead5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356200174223040242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc69Wa1HOWS05ZxISnAL3sjtRfGPaFH8cK7Ol6hi_4cb3ZzgDw6afTxSSIZFLUV8Z6SRW3zDn5vzI07VvzLVF2ehdcOmsTioaa3GPqGh83S3urfxc08t400jVi59Be79PiTM9xjQlBWpY/s320/dickhead5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aGesn9YS_APGwyQCmPlau6BhlCaRgNIh7blTzDEtnefI3KTaG2wWoZD-FZqX7xKEZpyYx_puYGTwjTrzhk3vvRRVIDqiTg3Rm5z4OAwKq6Nh_fCH9jzz9JxP_UCj2zwud92hoYSLP5Q/s1600-h/dickhead4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356200059180208418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aGesn9YS_APGwyQCmPlau6BhlCaRgNIh7blTzDEtnefI3KTaG2wWoZD-FZqX7xKEZpyYx_puYGTwjTrzhk3vvRRVIDqiTg3Rm5z4OAwKq6Nh_fCH9jzz9JxP_UCj2zwud92hoYSLP5Q/s320/dickhead4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBJsM-_CZW3bclpZE00SlCG0UGTeT5cjl9HFbH7ATqzGY4Mt-PsWMnsjLWIWjMlUnET7Bro_Itkz3Vm5I1ElYLzErJzfIYQvWoTExH7v5saUwU0r2BKbI90pqNemeH2YxBZDwQdFv4k/s1600-h/dickhead3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356199918979023922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 247px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sBJsM-_CZW3bclpZE00SlCG0UGTeT5cjl9HFbH7ATqzGY4Mt-PsWMnsjLWIWjMlUnET7Bro_Itkz3Vm5I1ElYLzErJzfIYQvWoTExH7v5saUwU0r2BKbI90pqNemeH2YxBZDwQdFv4k/s320/dickhead3.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Tv_9Mt93UlQeKwCuD-TVMdHogXmcykroGfNEShA5vfeYfwMUhJmFyZ6joZlNW-lie1uYVwJIvDb-Nvgg1AH1mBZ7XCBOACXjltH3K9sRyPk2_OQH2Uc5hd7aoVxTNdiUvaZ4rgOS9uQ/s1600-h/dickhead2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356199738994625458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Tv_9Mt93UlQeKwCuD-TVMdHogXmcykroGfNEShA5vfeYfwMUhJmFyZ6joZlNW-lie1uYVwJIvDb-Nvgg1AH1mBZ7XCBOACXjltH3K9sRyPk2_OQH2Uc5hd7aoVxTNdiUvaZ4rgOS9uQ/s320/dickhead2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5-v55hSWm6yjCcKdEdoM-q9TgFMESMr8dRg6bY6vOOUgr9RpvtCUMX5LoyYmpq1m3IQ0NRKpkYKZqNnCoDZjdIuvtNzbkTJF9JNNBhWuDHNlgt-t-BRPtTPUEi9WsIdvrJ1Ht7cjxjw/s1600-h/dickhead1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356199461451469874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5-v55hSWm6yjCcKdEdoM-q9TgFMESMr8dRg6bY6vOOUgr9RpvtCUMX5LoyYmpq1m3IQ0NRKpkYKZqNnCoDZjdIuvtNzbkTJF9JNNBhWuDHNlgt-t-BRPtTPUEi9WsIdvrJ1Ht7cjxjw/s320/dickhead1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p>Sometimes you just know you shouldn't get out of bed!</p></div></div></div></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-62142876643092137062009-07-08T09:48:00.003+12:002009-07-08T10:13:24.907+12:00Young Farmer Contest wide open this year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTDyWJ4MWhwyjJrDI2fGriY31DGZxCybHcdbItcRtiTcgKSIdptZHJ6K_qNSlfudIuGwttQAMFnB6DeoOKMqEoreX82DBTHP3eouG4j3kpL7R5ZfQZp_xGqyfhd7nVfyKBlarGGTgsQc/s1600-h/yfc+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355844395899700466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTDyWJ4MWhwyjJrDI2fGriY31DGZxCybHcdbItcRtiTcgKSIdptZHJ6K_qNSlfudIuGwttQAMFnB6DeoOKMqEoreX82DBTHP3eouG4j3kpL7R5ZfQZp_xGqyfhd7nVfyKBlarGGTgsQc/s320/yfc+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Right about now seven young men will be shovelling their nerves into a suitcase and making their way to Palmerston North to face agriculture's ultimate challenge - the Young Farmer Contest.</div><br /><div>This year's contestants are all 'first timers' at the Grand Final, so it will be something special to watch and be part of. </div><br /><div>What is striking about this year's bunch of bright young things is that most of the contestants do jobs 'off the farm' as well as on it, a marked change from the early days of the contest.</div><br /><div>Some have background in rural banking and consultancy work, most have qualifications from Lincoln - showing that today's farmers are better educated and inducted to the world outside the farm than ever before.</div><br /><div>Farmgirl feels for every one of them as they prepare for the theory day tomorrow. Having experience the highs and lows of competition as a partner, she well understands how much work and preparation has been undertaken in order for the contestants to front.</div><br /><div>It truly is a magnificent spectacle for agriculture and a marvelous springboard for leadership within our sector.</div><br /><div>And who will come up trumps?</div><br /><div>Farmgirl has heard that East Coast's Mark Guscott may be the one to watch but you never know - Southerners have had more than their fair share of the title over the years so it would be unwise to rule out Otago/Southland's Richard Copland and of course the North Island region's stronghold in Waikato/Bay of Plenty's Andrew Morris.</div><br /><div>Be sure to watch the dramatic conclusion on Saturday night, TV 1 at 10.15pm and support our agricultural showpiece.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-59535648609949247842009-07-08T09:33:00.004+12:002009-07-08T09:46:44.948+12:00More annihilation of British Farmers rights<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7YNXXoC10x1YCr6ln8JFk0QLKx5jyY2iIE81lDFvfkMrlj0frcJRFyWFlTlbLluNgkATY2qZw03a4QkCxFoj-nC212tkqWqkO9uY6bgjGgzuUwYtg4O0oMjLyqUfX4cWjlq-xRv0lEI/s1600-h/cow1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355837394388428130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7YNXXoC10x1YCr6ln8JFk0QLKx5jyY2iIE81lDFvfkMrlj0frcJRFyWFlTlbLluNgkATY2qZw03a4QkCxFoj-nC212tkqWqkO9uY6bgjGgzuUwYtg4O0oMjLyqUfX4cWjlq-xRv0lEI/s320/cow1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Our poor old British counterparts are suffering yet more draconian public whims with the news this week that a dairy farmer who happened to be grazing his cows in a field with a public access walkway through it, will face $1 million pounds in damages for injuries received by a walker after she was attacked by cattle in Cumbria in 2003.</div><br /><div>If ever we needed proof that the general public in Britain has gone barmy, this is it, and it goes to the very heart of why farmers here fought so hard over public access issues here recently - they saw the future - and it looks costly.</div><br /><div>According to the Farmers Weekly UK a judge at Preston Crown Court ruled the farmer was liable because he had not properly considered the risk his cattle posed.</div><br /><div>"Ms McKaskie (the victim), who was walking her dog across one of Mr Cameron’s fields, is claiming £1m for the injuries she sustained in the attack.While Mr Cameron is appealing against the decision, legal experts warned the judge’s decision could set a legal precedent and mean farmers having to remove cattle from fields.</div><br /><div>However the NFU said there was nothing in law to prevent farmers putting cattle and calves in fields with public access.</div><br /><div>"It is a concern that following a recent court case in light of the accident that there is a suggestion cattle should not be grazed in fields with footpaths,” the union’s Robert Shearsby told the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news">BBC</a>.</div><br /><div>"The NFU advises its members on the requirements of the law and what should be done to minimise risks." </div><br /><div>The ruling came after a police officer was paid £10,000 in damages by a landowner after he was trampled by a herd of cattle."</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>This is of course what happens when the rights of the public are put ahead of the necessity of producing food. Farmers in Britain may own the land but it seems they barely have a foothold on it, and that is why we see so many immigrating to New Zealand. Who can blame them!</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-35384282372988449512009-07-07T18:44:00.011+12:002009-07-07T19:19:50.605+12:00Ravensdown CEO Rodney Green's job hangs on a transparency thread<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQAc6B1gtDjLaIutkAb6fIOOD3bLz9qE9HlCJuQ-6YWtwOjEYwKoDtYvzeaEKXAPb1AlYWrbLykmPEYk4gJBXb0X_8sP2XGQbXgwkfb1wZ9hdN927_GQnIw3kbRcsfayagzfyHSyHOdY/s1600-h/rodney.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355609534945932498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 104px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQAc6B1gtDjLaIutkAb6fIOOD3bLz9qE9HlCJuQ-6YWtwOjEYwKoDtYvzeaEKXAPb1AlYWrbLykmPEYk4gJBXb0X_8sP2XGQbXgwkfb1wZ9hdN927_GQnIw3kbRcsfayagzfyHSyHOdY/s320/rodney.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Farmgirl, unlike the Radio Network, has managed to escape the bullying clutches of the CEO of Ravensdown thus far and has requested a head to head discussion through the radio forum with Rodney Green but has heard nothing yet.</div><br /><div>It is very serious and alarming when shareholders seem to be muzzled by the head of a co-operative and are not being allowed to ask the questions that need to be asked at this point of time. </div><br /><div>What is even more alarming is that Farmgirl has received further serious allegations against the CEO and his Board regarding some private dealings that shareholders have no idea about.</div><br /><div>This company appears to be no longer transparent and the head of it has far too much power and seemingly a weak or frightened Board.</div><br /><div>Farmgirl wants Mr Green to front up and answer these questions:</div><br /><div>1 Did Ravensdown have a large cash deficit in last year's accounts from operating activities - that actually they didn't have a $40 million profit but a $40 million loss - it only looks that way due to a change of accounting standards and the favourable revaluation of foreign exchange contracts?<br />2 Were last year's rebates paid from borrowing, not actual profit?<br />3 That borrowing to pay rebates is a hugely risky venture and not one that shareholders are aware of?<br />4 That under these current conditions and the fact that Ravensdown is not in great shape the venture into Australia could only be construed as risky?</div><div>4a That the directors may not have been fully aware of Ravensdown's financial situation </div><div>prior to its move into Australia?<br />5 Have they made any million dollar plus settlements out of court in the past three years? </div><div>6 Are shareholders aware of what might have been paid via settlement out of court in the past</div><div>three years?</div>7 How on earth can Ravensdown be called a co-operative if its shareholders are ill informed and then threatened should they choose to ask questions?<br /><div> </div><div>If Farmgirl and other concerned shareholders are right about the situation with Ravnesdown, then it's time all of us did something about it, took back control of the co-operative and got rid of the rot.</div><div>This is not defamation Rodney, this is our right as concerned shareholders to publicly voice our view.</div><div>Having worked in agricultural newspapers, and knowing how companies can threaten to pull big advertising budgets if anything negative is written about them, this blog becomes vitally important.</div><div>Please, share your views, get in contact with Farmgirl if need be and keep asking these questions of your directors until you get the answers clarified.</div><div>We will not be silenced, nor will investigations be dismissed.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-73426755775490181002009-06-22T18:02:00.004+12:002009-06-22T18:10:44.315+12:00Are growers being ripped off with Ravensdown DAP price?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKuwvEo7EXLDhyK7iA7iI3z6yQMrlsDhExKBlI1lpI1mU3QEM54J7TIt4_k53gX8o4PtXtEw1yxY2OgxjWG1UHGIfyCIGbJjJX6IAcfMx1LvYIMTpnaT6U-aqax_SticlO2Sh2-q8qUE/s1600-h/robber1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350030406192672898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKuwvEo7EXLDhyK7iA7iI3z6yQMrlsDhExKBlI1lpI1mU3QEM54J7TIt4_k53gX8o4PtXtEw1yxY2OgxjWG1UHGIfyCIGbJjJX6IAcfMx1LvYIMTpnaT6U-aqax_SticlO2Sh2-q8qUE/s320/robber1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>And more from our Aussie commentator - something that we as shareholders have suspected.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>"They are ripping off growers blind on DAP at NZ$827/t. DAP has been selling on the world market at US$300-US$330 since the beginning of the year, current prices are at the bottom of the range anticipating additional Chinese capacity for June/July, it is well documented and highlighted recently at IFA Shanghai that DAP pricing will continue to be low due to low demand and expected to trade range bound for the medium term. Freight is roughly US$30/t and port/discharge/handling costs roughly US$25/t. This should mean a co-op that sells at “cost” should be more like US$400/t, maybe US$420 which I believe equates to around NZ$620/t?"</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div>All this when Rodney promised Mid Canterbury arable farmers a forward fixed price no higher than $900 plus per tonne for spring delivery. Surely they're market intelligence research must have been better informed...which puts further questions over their honesty with growers and they're research on the Australian venture.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-31613927225819785462009-06-22T17:49:00.005+12:002009-06-22T18:12:01.180+12:00What an Australian commentator is predicting for Ravensdown and it isn't good for Kiwi shareholders...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-thXaDOhZm0mEZFqTd0dss1GrBc85szwQzVCHvc6B-6jK52ye_qg4LUt-k-vMTrsDydo9rAHOt4AlsqrBPEKczWnt73hJwpDihZ0MRI0XyOu1YYkKNHkpmhdiKuDgDa5qfAqmzavGh0/s1600-h/australian+pancake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350026286617876498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 136px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 102px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-thXaDOhZm0mEZFqTd0dss1GrBc85szwQzVCHvc6B-6jK52ye_qg4LUt-k-vMTrsDydo9rAHOt4AlsqrBPEKczWnt73hJwpDihZ0MRI0XyOu1YYkKNHkpmhdiKuDgDa5qfAqmzavGh0/s320/australian+pancake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This just sent to Farmgirl today from a rural Australian follower of the blog. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>"In essence Ravensdown is only offering granular urea and they have made a right royal mess of it in my opinion. They have offered growers a “cost” price of A$525/t, however, the current urea price is $480/t, admittedly at the time Ravensdown spruiked to its Kiwi brethren, the price was over $600/t but blind freddy could see the price was tumbling as world urea prices had already started the forecast fall. The Ravensdown marketing machine (double speak in a suit), managed to fear the Australian growers into prices were going up or remaining high and managed to greed NZ shareholders that the price was hugely profitable. Both of these claims are of course...let’s say...less than honest.<br />The model that Ravensdown are using is causing a backlash in our rural communities, essentially Ravensdown are attempting to cause the demise of the rural store, it is highly unlikely this will be tolerated once the smoke has cleared and this alone will create a huge cost impost for Ravensdown in order for it to compete long term. Secondly, the idea that there was only one large, unloved player in the Queensland market that need be conquered is a major underestimation, not sure whether by design or folly. The notion that the second tier players, us included, along with our large multi-national, are going to sit by and watch our markets get eroded and rural communities and infrastructure become decimated is ridiculous. Ravensdown are in for a fight they have never encountered before, I think there will be significant focus on reducing their profitability and exposing their integrity.<br />Already we see Ravensdown are showing off their true colours, a part of the deal with Australian growers was that they must belong to Ravensdown in order to access “cheap” fertiliser, and in fact they forced growers to pay $80/t up front partial share payment at time of order but cannot collect it themselves as they are illegally setup for such a transaction (not only has this decimated possible Ravensdown cash flow, but a very expensive court case at NZ shareholders expense in the making we presume). In order to get the first vessel possible, Ravensdown were forced to sellout the growers and offer large parcels to another fertiliser importer in South Australia, paid for by its NZ shareholders.<br />There are now several large risks at question, the Townsville warehouse is reportedly full of holes, was never suitable for fertiliser and come September when the wet season arrives, any fertiliser remaining will be dumped or relocated at presumably NZ shareholder expense. The vessel calling Brisbane (our major port) is apparently under question as sales volumes flounder and the vessel has to also go to South Australia to satisfy the non-shareholder customer. Rumours for sure, but where there’s smoke there’s fire. Rest assured, any cracks in the Ravensdown venture will be seized upon, exploited and capitalised on to the detriment of NZ shareholders."</em></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-59544192946038359842009-06-22T17:39:00.004+12:002009-06-22T18:13:02.752+12:00Shareholders should be concerned about Ravensdown...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGT8j3NJs3fu0m63GW-e6YGsu57alZTsftn3m9jdnsHzKuWifYKlV1fDSDLnUwubXsIU8xiDgVQohSZSkcu5Hk68TX6Y9_UAnGaMF3QFjGkFteVtfEsKmSiFph8J4rs6-5cwmThwnrWI/s1600-h/dog2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350024269086523346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 299px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGT8j3NJs3fu0m63GW-e6YGsu57alZTsftn3m9jdnsHzKuWifYKlV1fDSDLnUwubXsIU8xiDgVQohSZSkcu5Hk68TX6Y9_UAnGaMF3QFjGkFteVtfEsKmSiFph8J4rs6-5cwmThwnrWI/s320/dog2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Farmgirl wants to share some important comments passed on to her by a follower of the blog.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><em>"Have you seen the latest Ravensdown Hot off the Press on their web site.What has been said about having to make profits, banking covenants,pressure to retain bank funding facilities, selling foreign exchange,having to restructure etc is just the tip of the iceberg. No wonder they have the pressure on (you) not to let their true financial position be know to shareholders, but the truth will come sooner or later especially with this Australian nonsense and the current banking squeeze.</em></div><br /><div><em>In the market Ballance are deliberately squeezing them on prices. Ballance set the price and Ravensdown follow a few days later at about the same level. But with sales back and profits and cashflow required to satisfy their banks they desperately need higher prices in New Zealand -they will never achieve this.</em></div><br /><div><em>This is a deliberate tactic by Ballance - they want a weaker and weaker Ravensdown in the market in order to grow their own market share and improve operational capacities.</em></div><br /><div><em>Rodney Green said some time ago a 50:50market was not sustainable and he would grow Ravensdown to be 20% larger than the number two in the market. Ballance are effectively following his advice.</em></div><br /><div><em>The Australian venture and non fertiliser activities is the only way Green can boast that he has been successful and grown Ravensdown - that is his driving force and the force that dominates Ravensdown's activities - but at what cost - he was not in the industry when other misguided fertiliser co-op's collapsed.</em></div><br /><div><em>Their accounts may just be legal - but their presentations and PR in explaining their true position are on very thin ice - no doubt they will blame the current economic conditions - but their problems are more fundamental and getting to be terminal."</em></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-48570337392840424742009-06-22T17:31:00.003+12:002009-06-22T17:37:33.608+12:00The worrying truth about Ravensdown's cashflow<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPII8r6W6_Ph5ZQDzfiN2QTZkAba51_4KQglLHvJRzzM_cisbz-ef2OgO5R-gvHfRihIutZNnF9fJTWVehyphenhyphendY2jrrZ-aUDoenfEsYuPShQkfsaGvsZUfUkDGJpMdkizuwCtcfVw3mu88/s1600-h/sinking+ship.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350021834203036690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 123px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 105px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPII8r6W6_Ph5ZQDzfiN2QTZkAba51_4KQglLHvJRzzM_cisbz-ef2OgO5R-gvHfRihIutZNnF9fJTWVehyphenhyphendY2jrrZ-aUDoenfEsYuPShQkfsaGvsZUfUkDGJpMdkizuwCtcfVw3mu88/s320/sinking+ship.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>An adviser thinks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Farmgirl</span> should be focusing on the fact there has been such a large <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">cashflow</span> deficit ($109 million) from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ravensdown</span> 'operating activities' (i.e.core fertiliser activities) in the past year and that the current ratio (85.4%debt/assets) is in such bad shape. </div><br /><div>"Paying a rebate with those numbers in such poor shape would seem risky, especially when you compare what <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Fonterra</span> is doing (no unshared supply, no contract milkers, retaining a large portion of the payout). <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Fonterra</span> seems to be taking a cautious/prudent approach that should see them through these difficult times." </div><br /><div>Is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ravensdown</span> doing the same?</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-31074685428300390142009-06-16T10:12:00.003+12:002009-06-16T10:21:34.172+12:00Ravensdown not doing anything illegalLet's be clear about this.<br />Ravensdown is not doing anything illegal in its financial accounting or in any of its business and Farmgirl is not suggesting anything of the sort.<br />What Farmgirl is suggesting is that shareholders are not fully aware of the situation financially - by that she means that under the new international accounting standards, although Ravensdown is showing a $40 million profit for the past financial year, the statement of cashflow reflects something entirely different.<br />This is not opinion - it is fact.<br />As a shareholder Farmgirl is concerned that on that basis many shareholders may not be as happy about the expansion into Australia as Ravensdown suggests.<br />Shareholders should always ask questions, and should always question the performance of their company - and for that they should never be punished.Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-45933601590120659432009-06-03T16:35:00.004+12:002009-06-03T16:46:19.308+12:00Serious questions need to be asked about viability of Ravensdown's move into Australia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nzNbLa2J3b2wzxAqll3a19-iT6vDDKHEDgWH8ijdKFPpx7GRdfVnBKoG_5FD-2sMAAu5v203Nbl-O0VaWffza2XEoY9fv1Bgup408WGsf9IUKYfOuPHrd7h1-8KeQMvlvhPrMM5QUaA/s1600-h/rodney.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342957872500540866" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 104px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nzNbLa2J3b2wzxAqll3a19-iT6vDDKHEDgWH8ijdKFPpx7GRdfVnBKoG_5FD-2sMAAu5v203Nbl-O0VaWffza2XEoY9fv1Bgup408WGsf9IUKYfOuPHrd7h1-8KeQMvlvhPrMM5QUaA/s320/rodney.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>They hate us - those Aussie fertiliser companies that Ravensdown is playing dirty with. And why wouldn't they...Rodders comes in on his big white shining horse to take over the industry, offers the farmers cost price fertiliser and then some, even though it is not maintainable and with a fair wave of his royal hand he wipes out competitors but does he endanger his own shareholders?<br />Who is paying for Rodney's expansionist ideas? Who indeed...come on Kiwi shareholders, it doesn't take a maestro to work out that if he's not making a profit on the much heralded Aussie advance, the money generated to continue must be coming from somewhere.</div><br /><div>Are Australian farmers being put ahead of Kiwi shareholders?</div><br /><div>How profitable is the core Ravensdown fertiliser business at present?</div><br /><div>And how truthful is Ravensdown being about its profitability, cash flow and debt levels in its annual accounts?</div><br /><div>The truth might surprise you.</div><br /><div>Keep watching this space over the coming days and ask the questions that need to be asked of your so called 'co-operative'.</div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637325270417540108.post-58706595465189057762009-06-03T16:21:00.003+12:002009-06-03T16:31:15.065+12:00Farmgirl talks dairy pay-out and animal welfare with Farming Show host Jamie Mackay<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAVoB9TwatYdCq2BGP7JJlYnx-JomsD08ekG39egeT8leYZs6vFG4hX9Ih4lKQepTz5z81lP9BkgmkK87tVMh2jIkPuKPMdHYNMg7Llc-3GwWYc29pVbyqPhZddQa2OZVmg7FPbFSfN0/s1600-h/cow1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342954149547447746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAVoB9TwatYdCq2BGP7JJlYnx-JomsD08ekG39egeT8leYZs6vFG4hX9Ih4lKQepTz5z81lP9BkgmkK87tVMh2jIkPuKPMdHYNMg7Llc-3GwWYc29pVbyqPhZddQa2OZVmg7FPbFSfN0/s320/cow1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last week Farmgirl talked to Jamie Mackay on the Farming Show about the dairy industry and pork issues. You can hear what she had to say on: </div><br /><div><a href="http://www.farmingshow.com/farming270509.html">http://www.farmingshow.com/farming270509.html</a></div>Nadine Porterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09656765206284497908noreply@blogger.com0