Tuesday, 23 January 2024 11:55

Better days coming - Open Country Dairy

Written by  Staff Reporters
Open Country Dairy chief executive Mark de Lautour. Open Country Dairy chief executive Mark de Lautour.

Open Country Dairy suppliers have received a final payout of $7.37/ kgMS for milk sent to the factories in October and November last year.

Open Country chief executive Mark de Lautour says the final payout was “was at the higher end of our range for the period and reflected that market price improved slightly earlier than we had forecast”.

In his monthly message to farmer suppliers, de Lautour says he expects prices to improve in the coming months.

“We expect further upside in the coming two periods remaining in this milk season, however this is conditional on continued demand – especially following Chinese New Year – and finished product price improvement.”

OCD pays its farmers the full milk price in four periods every 12 months.

The Talley’s-owned business is forecasting a milk price of between $7.50 to $7.80/kgMS for the January period, which covers milk supplied between December last year and January this year. Farmers will be paid in full in March.

For the May period (milk supplied between February and May this year) OCD suppliers can expect a milk price of between $8 and $8.40/kgMS. For September period (June to September supply) Open Country is forecasting between $8.30 and $8.70/kgMS.

Meanwhile, Open Country’s sales team are busy preparing for the Gulfood trade show in mid-February. Held in Dubai, Open Country has a significant presence at this show with the Middle East being a key geographic market for the company.

“While centered around this part of the world, buyers globally attend, so it represents a good opportunity to meet a number of both current and potential customers,” says de Lautour.

More like this

$8 not a done deal!

Farmers have been told that an opening forecast milk price of $8/kgMS this season hinges on China’s demand for whole milk powder (WMP) bouncing back.

OCD slashes forecast milk price

The country's second largest milk processor has slashed its forecast milk price range for the last third of this season by 50c.

Featured

Crush death triggers on-farm traffic alert

Following a sentencing for a death at a South Canterbury agribusiness, WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds.

Vegetable growing at risk

Horticulture New Zealand says the country’s ability to provide fresh, healthy vegetables is at risk unless the Government makes growing them a permitted activity.

Industry monitoring dry conditions

While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.

National

Synlait sweetens milk supply deal

Canterbury milk processor Synlait is confident of retaining its farmer supplier base following a turnaround in its financial performance.

Optimism in the air

Ag First chief executive James Allen says dairy farmer optimism is on the rise.

Machinery & Products

New distributor for Aussie equipment

Australian agricultural equipment distributor, Waringa Distribution, has increased its support to South Island farmers and contractors with the appointment of…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Bovaer's fate

OPINION: The fate of methane inhibitor Bovaer in NZ farming is still up in the air.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter