Silver Fern Farms will have a new member on its board later this month.
Sitting director Bruce McNab from North Otago has retired, and three candidates will chase the two seats representing the area south of the Waitaki River at the meat company's annual meeting in Dunedin on January 29.
Sitting member Murray Borthwick is seeking re-election, alongside two new candidates, East Otago farmer and Federated Farmers Otago meat and fibre chairman Rob Lawson, and Mossburn farmer and Meat Industry Action Group member Stephen Cullen.
The annual meeting will also discuss a board proposal to change its governance structure, including reducing its board from 12 to eight, removing the ward structure and creating a shareholders' council.
That would see three directors elected by farmers, two appointed by the shareholders' council and three independent appointees.
Shareholders would not be required to vote on the issue.
Had the partnership with PGG Wrightson proceeded, it was proposed the rural servicing company would have four directors and four elected by farmers.
Two of Silver Fern Farm's current 12-strong board are independent.
Mr Borthwick, who farms at Waitane, in Southland, has been a board member since 2005.
Former Otago cricket captain and Federated Farmers leader Rob Lawson sees growing emerging markets and the SFF brand as a way to improve sheep-farming profitability.
He also advocates streamlining the company's governance structure, regaining the trust and respect of farmers, offering greater reward for farmer loyalty and continued debt reduction.
Mr Cullen said he wanted a less fragmented meat industry, a strong farmer-controlled co-operative with board governance that created an industry farmers wanted to be part of, and reward for shareholder loyalty.
