Lisa joined the Co-op in 2005 working in information systems before moving into milk supply and Supply Fonterra. When Farm Source was launched in 2014, Lisa took up the role of Bay of Plenty Regional Head, a position that allowed her to work directly with farmers on farm and facilitate support.
Her experience with the Co-op and knowledge of the challenges that dairy farmers face made Lisa the perfect choice to lead Farm Source's new Milk Supply team. The unit has been established as part of Farm Source's team structure changes to focus its services where they are needed most - at the farm level.
"We know that farmers are facing big challenges - whether that's intergenerational considerations or investments required to meet sustainability objectives, financial pressures or just the day-in day-out pressures that mother nature specialises in. It's important for us to help farmers through these challenges as their business viability is the foundation of our co-operative. We need to balance this with ensuring we're meeting the market in terms of increased competition and pressures around availability of milk supply," Lisa says.
"The biggest thing in the world right now is climate change and that puts a lot of pressure on the primary industry. Our farmers already have relatively low carbon footprint but for some it can be a struggle with trying to keep farms viable and up-to-scratch from the ever increasing requirements. Maintaining efficiency is a balance but there is a good future for a thriving dairy industry, and it's fundamental to New Zealand's economy."
The Milk Supply team facilitate support through the regional teams and directly, providing resources and tools for farmers, and showcasing the value of being part of the Co-op.
"With the Co-op, farmers have access to a full-support package: Farm Source retail and Farm Source technical services that leverage lower cost inputs and economies of scale, through to having the Fonterra sales and marketing team promote their milk overseas."
"Fundamentally one of the key things that our Co-op owners get is their share of all value created from their milk. Everything the Co-operative earns, over and above milk price, flows directly back to the New Zealand farmer owners or is reinvested into their co-op business. That is what enables rural New Zealand to thrive, without their investment in a New Zealand Co-operative there is a risk a lot of value would go off-shore," Lisa says.
"That's the beauty of the Co-op - the farmers, the team in Farm Source and all the teams that work in the business are all Fonterra. We all get out of bed for the same reason, which is to create value from our farmers milk," says Lisa Payne.
Contact your Co-operative Services Area Manager to find out more about Farm Source's milk supply strategy and the support available to you.