Dairying 'bible' for sale

By LIAM DANN

Fonterra has upset its shareholder council with its plans to sell the Dairy Exporter - the magazine often called the dairy farmers' bible - because it does not fit with the company's core business activities.

Shareholders Council chairman Tony O'Boyle said he had been surprised by the decision.

It was a concern that the council had not been consulted about it, he said.

Dairy Exporter, which was established in 1925, is focused on industry-wide issues and on-farm research. Fonterra inherited it from the Dairy Board at the time of the merger.

It had a loyal following among dairy farmers and was able to run the kind of in-depth research that more commercial publications could not, O'Boyle said.

There is concern in the dairy sector that if a suitable buyer is not found the magazine could be closed.

The council was now discussing the nature of the sale process with Fonterra, O'Boyle said.

"The council would be very disappointed if it was closed down."

Fonterra confirmed it was selling the magazine but would not comment on the possibility of closure.

The sale process had just begun, a spokesman said.

"It is an industry magazine, not a Fonterra magazine, so it makes sense for it to be run by an independent entity", he said.

Guild of Agricultural Journalists president Janet Tyson said the monthly magazine had a good reputation in the industry.

"Although its owned by Fonterra it definitely doesn't have to follow the Fonterra line in terms of content."

Fonterra had its own monthly supplier newsletter, she said.

Tyson was optimistic that a buyer could be found.