There is a crescendo of support for another Fonterra farmer vote on Trading Among Farmers.

Rural News reported that at a recent farmer meeting in Ashburton nearly 200 farmers, representing 4 percent of Fonterra’s supply, indicated they wanted to vote again on the controversial capital raising vehicle.

In June 2010, just on 90% of famers voted in favour of TAF but since then key details of the proposal have been changed. 

Many of the farmers at the Ashburton meeting signed an official petition calling for another vote on TAF which Fonterra received this week.

The petition’s organiser, South Canterbury farmer Leonie Guiney, says Fonterra officials are meeting with her to discuss the issues the group had raised. 

Earlier in the week, Guiney told Country 99TV she was appalled by the Fonterra Shareholder Council’s attitude towards TAF.

"Council leadership seems to have decided on our behalf that the share title should be removed from the farmer, and that’s the best thing to do. Now to me that’s abominable.

"That’s a major failure in the job of council, the council is there to ask the questions, what are the risks if this share title is shifted."

And Labour agriculture spokesman, Damien O’Connor, says he is right behind the Fonterra farmers who are currently calling for another vote on TAF.

Mr O’Connor says keeping Fonterra in 100% farmer ownership and control is vital for not only for the continuing success of the cooperative’s farmers, but all of New Zealand. 

Mr O’Connor says farmers deserve to be kept informed of the implications of placing the legal title of their shares with a custodian.