Fonterra Co-op Council Seeks New Milk Price Panel Member
Source: The DairyNews
The Fonterra Co-operative Council is actively searching for a farmer representative to join the Fonterra Milk Price Panel, aiming to ensure the integrity of the Farmgate Milk Price.
The seven-member panel, which includes two council nominees, is currently served by Fonterra farmer Bill Donaldson and independent member Fred Ohlsson. Council Chair John Stevenson emphasizes the panel's critical role in maintaining the transparency and accuracy of Fonterra’s milk pricing system.
The new member will succeed Donaldson, who has been a panel member since late 2014 and will continue until September 2025 to facilitate a smooth transition. Stevenson highlights Donaldson's exceptional contributions to the co-op and the importance of the transitional period for the new nominee to acclimate effectively.
Stevenson explains, “The initial 12 months as an observer will enable our new nominee to understand the complexities of the panel's responsibilities, ensuring they are fully prepared to contribute when they assume full membership in September 2025.”
The council is specifically seeking a Fonterra supplier with substantial on-farm dairy experience and a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing Fonterra’s milk price. This criterion aims to maintain a diverse range of farmer perspectives on the panel, in line with legislative requirements for a majority of independent members.
Applications from Fonterra farmers are open until 8 July 2024.
The panel is led by independent chair David Pilkington and includes nominees from the Minister of Agriculture, Professor Hamish Gow and Ming Lim-Pollard, alongside the council appointees, Bill Donaldson and Fred Ohlsson. Additionally, the panel features farmer-elected Fonterra director Leonie Guiney and appointed Fonterra director Bruce Hassall.
The panel’s responsibilities encompass overseeing the calculation and recommendation of the Farmgate Milk Price to the Fonterra board, advising on changes to the Milk Price Manual, and ensuring the price's calculation adheres to the manual through independent verification of key parameters such as resource usage rates, product yields, and fixed manufacturing costs.
The new member will succeed Donaldson, who has been a panel member since late 2014 and will continue until September 2025 to facilitate a smooth transition. Stevenson highlights Donaldson's exceptional contributions to the co-op and the importance of the transitional period for the new nominee to acclimate effectively.
Stevenson explains, “The initial 12 months as an observer will enable our new nominee to understand the complexities of the panel's responsibilities, ensuring they are fully prepared to contribute when they assume full membership in September 2025.”
The council is specifically seeking a Fonterra supplier with substantial on-farm dairy experience and a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing Fonterra’s milk price. This criterion aims to maintain a diverse range of farmer perspectives on the panel, in line with legislative requirements for a majority of independent members.
Applications from Fonterra farmers are open until 8 July 2024.
The panel is led by independent chair David Pilkington and includes nominees from the Minister of Agriculture, Professor Hamish Gow and Ming Lim-Pollard, alongside the council appointees, Bill Donaldson and Fred Ohlsson. Additionally, the panel features farmer-elected Fonterra director Leonie Guiney and appointed Fonterra director Bruce Hassall.
The panel’s responsibilities encompass overseeing the calculation and recommendation of the Farmgate Milk Price to the Fonterra board, advising on changes to the Milk Price Manual, and ensuring the price's calculation adheres to the manual through independent verification of key parameters such as resource usage rates, product yields, and fixed manufacturing costs.
