Attracting directors for cooperatives is getting harder the fewer there are and the bigger they get, says Farmlands chairman Lachie Johnstone as the $2 billion revenue rural services business kicks off director elections.
Three seats are up for election as two long-serving directors step down and a third, Silver Fern Farms chairman and Clutha farmer Rob Hewett by rotation seeks another term.
Leaving the top table this year are Marlborough-based Joe Ferraby, who has been a director more than 20 years, including his time on farm services company CRT which merged with Farmlands in 2013, and Bay of Plenty dairy farmer and orchardist David Jensen.
Nominations close on September 13. Candidates must be shareholders.
Johnstone, who also chairs the Port of Wellington, said Farmlands was keen to "refresh" its board but the consolidation of cooperatives meant they tended to be increasingly complex which made finding directors tougher.