New chief executive appointed at Overseer

Top cheeses found at annual awards

Richard Rennie richard.rennie@globalhq.co.nz

A CLUTCH of champion cheese makers and commercial operators were recognised at this year’s champion cheese awards, along with a raft of quality cheeses claiming category victories.

This year’s supreme cheese award went to a young cheddar produced by Open Country Dairy, described by judges as displaying superb flavour and body, and a pleasing result from a large producer.

Little River Estate in Mt Richmond claimed the champion’s award for mid-sized cheese companies with its Little River Mt Richmond cheese, while Craggy Range Sheep Dairy claimed the boutique award with its Maraetotara Manchego.

The Spanish style cheese is aged for over a year to develop its balanced flavour.

Fonterra’s lead cheesemaker in Eltham, Cathy Lang claimed the champion cheesemaker award for a career she embarked on in 2005.

Head judge Jason Tarrant said her three cheese entries highlighted and her team’s diverse skills, particularly the iconic Kahurangi Blue entry.

An inaugural trophy for sustainability was also awarded this year to Hohepa Hawke’s Bay.

The trust was set up to help intellectually disabled people have work opportunities and employs 180 people.

It has significantly reduced its emissions profile.

It also won six medals in the awards this year for its cheeses.

Some of the category award winning cheeses included Fonterra’s Kahurangi Blue claiming the Blue Cheese award, its Mainland Tasty Light also receiving the retail cheddar award, and Karikaas Natural Dairy Products the Dutch style award for its vintage gouda.

Clevedon Buffalo company collected the champion yoghurt award for its vanilla bean offering.

Chefs gave Katikati cheesemakers Mount Eliza the thumbs up for its Blue Monkey cheese in the chefs’ choice awards.

Little River claimed the sheep cheese award with their supreme winning Mt Richmond cheese award, while Fonterra also picked up the export cheese award with its Kapiti Kikorangi triple cream Blue.

New chief executive appointed at Overseer

Staff reporter

JILL Gower has been appointed chief executive of Overseer Limited, the organisation that administers the farm planning and management tool OverseerFM.

Gower is Overseer Limited’s former company secretary and has worked there for three years.

Overseer board chair Ian Clarke says they were impressed by Gower’s vision for OverseerFM.

“Jill clearly recognises the critical role OverseerFM can play in helping farmers and growers make better decisions to improve their farm’s environmental sustainability and productivity.”

Gower says she is looking forward to consolidating and building the core business, but also taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

“It has certainly been a challenging couple of years, however the light is starting to shine on OverseerFM’s value as a decision support tool.

“Our focus for the next year is making sure the value-add features in OverseerFM are highly visible, that everyone understands how to best use OverseerFM, and that any future improvements offer serious bang for buck.”

Jill replaces Dr Caroline Read, who left Overseer Limited in February 2022 to take up a new role.

WINNER: Fonterra cheesemaker Cathy Lang was recognised as NZ’s supreme cheesemaker this year.

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STORMY SEAS: ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby said global shipping costs have eased somewhat, though there are still challenges in moving goods.

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News Ailing dollar boosts NZ export prices

Hugh Stringleman hugh.stringleman@globalhq.co.nz

WORLD commodity prices fell slightly during June but prices in New Zealand dollars rose because of the depreciation of the NZ dollar against the currencies of our trading partners.

The ANZ world commodities price index covering our major exports fell 0.4% in June, the third small monthly fall since its all-time peak reached in March.

The world index is down 6.5% since March. But because of the steady weakening in strength of the NZD, the ANZ NZ commodities price index has gained slightly during June, up 0.7%, and has set a new all-time record.

For example, the NZD was worth US65.6c at the beginning of June and US62.2 at the end of the month.

A US1c downward movement adds 10c/kg to the milk price.

The foreign exchange effects are also shown in the world index being 4.8% higher in June than 12 months before, while the NZ index is 14.5% higher.

The index weightings are dairy 41%, beef, lamb and logs all 11% each, kiwifruit 8%, seafood and aluminium both 4%, sawn timber 3%, apples 2%, wood pulp 2% and wool and skins 1% each.

Dairy prices rose 1.7% in June compared with May, firmer prices for milk powders being offset by weakness in butter and cheese.

The meat and fibre index fell 3% in June due to disrupted demand in China from covid lockdowns.

“Lamb prices have been more stable, but NZ supply remains curtailed as labour shortages continue to limit processing capacity,” said ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby.

The horticulture index was up 4.8% in June in world currency terms, both kiwifruit and apples getting price lifts.

The forestry index was down 3% as log prices eased due to lockdowns in China.

Aluminium prices fell 9% as demand weakened due to slower economic activity.

Kilsby said global shipping prices eased during the month, the Baltic Dry Index falling 15%.

“Despite the overall improvements, many NZ exporters continue to report challenges in moving goods to market in a timely manner,” she said.

“Shipping costs are expected to remain elevated until supply chains start to consistently function in a more efficient manner.”

Shipping costs are expected to remain elevated until supply chains start to consistently function in a more efficient manner.

Susan Kilsby ANZ agricultural economist

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Breaking news?

Two to take on AWDT leadership

Annette Scott annette.scott@globalhq.co.nz

ONE chair steps down and two step up to head the Agri Women Development Trust (AWDT).

After three years heading the charitable trust, Linda Cooper is moving on.

As part of its succession planning and maturing governance model, trustees Murray Donald and Keri Johnston have been appointed as co-chairs and they took up their roles on June 1.

Cooper has served the trust since 2019, leading it through further growth and extension of its impact across the primary sector from farms to boardrooms.

Cooper says she is excited for the trust’s future.

“We’ve come through some challenging times with the pandemic over the past couple of years as we committed to investing in our programmes and our women and men to help meet the future needs of the primary sector.

“I am excited for the trust’s future with the new programmes rolling out, the continued support of our partners, new developing partnerships, and the talent around the board and staff tables.”

She will continue her involvement with AWDT and the primary sector and women it works with through her role as a facilitator and coach on the trust’s Next Level leadership programme.

The appointment of longstanding AWDT trustee, Southland farmer and experienced governor Donald, will ensure continuity on the board as it retains his strong financial and strategic skills.

A farmer, environmental consultant and natural resources engineer, Johnston joined the AWDT board in 2021 bringing deep experience and skills from her roles as chair of Irrigation NZ and vice chair of the Timaru Girls High School board.

She is a graduate of AWDT’s Escalator leadership and governance programme.

A working engineer, principal of Irricon Resource Solutions and mother of two, Johnston is used to juggling a variety of roles.

As part of further succession plans and board progression, Jenni Vernon and Fi Dalgety will step down from the AWDT board this year and the trust will recruit one more trustee.

This will reduce the total number of trustees from eight to five, including sitting trustees AnneMarie Brougton and Poto Davies, an appropriate size board for a small organisation, Cooper said.

IT TAKES TWO: Keri Johnson and Murray Donald will share the chair’s role at the AgriWomen’s Development Trust.

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