"Our" business?
OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it both ways when it comes to the success of NZ's dairy industry.
Fonterra has lifted its forecast farmgate milk price for the 2017-18 season by 25c to $6.75/kgMS.
The coop also announced a forecast earnings per share range of 45 to 55 cents, making the forecast total available payout to farmers in the 2017-18 season $7.20 to $7.30/kgMS, before retentions.
Chairman John Wilson says the revised forecast farmgate milk price reflects the ongoing rebalancing of supply and demand in global dairy markets.
“We are seeing growing confidence on-farm across the country and, with global demand for dairy strengthening, the signs are for a good start to the season for our farmers and their rural communities although following a challenging period of very wet conditions for some of our farmers,” says Wilson.
“The increased Farmgate Milk Price will be welcome news to farmers as they continue to invest in their businesses off the back of an improved 2016-17 season, with the usual reminder to budget cautiously especially in the early part of the season.”
Chief executive Theo Spierings says the coop is well positioned to take advantage of improving demand for dairy nutrition across our ingredients, consumer and foodservice markets.
“Increasing numbers of consumers in our global markets prefer dairy for their everyday source of nutrition, and that is converting into strong demand particularly in consumer and foodservice products,” says Spierings.
“Our forecasts are prudent given that we are still early in the season and we are starting with very low levels of inventory, and we are focused on continuing to demonstrate strong business performance so as to bring greater returns for our farmers.”
According to the most recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey, farmer confidence has inched higher, reaching its second highest reading in the last decade.
From 1 October, new livestock movement restrictions will be introduced in parts of Central Otago dealing with infected possums spreading bovine TB to livestock.
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
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