Open Country Dairy prepares to launch first commercial butter
The country's second largest milk processor hopes to produce its first commercial butter within two months.
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.
Managing director of Woolover Ltd, David Brown, has put a lot of effort into verifying what seems intuitive, that keeping newborn stock's core temperature stable pays dividends by helping them realise their full genetic potential.
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.