Fonterra FY26 Results: $9.69 Milk Price, $3.4bn Profit
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
Chinese media say Fonterra’s two directors on its joint venture, Beingmate have expressed reservations about a new independent director approved by the board recently.
Fonterra Chinese operations head and Beingmate director Christina Zhu is quoted saying the outgoing director Liu Xiaosong had extensive experience in financial accounting and internal control.
He played an important role in corporate governance and internal auditing as the audit committee chairman.
“The company is currently faced with many complex financial, internal control and accounting issues, and has been repeatedly concerned about inquiries by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Authority.
“The company is also in a difficult business environment and faces many challenges. Therefore, it is urgent to have a person with rich financial and accounting experience – an independent director with an internal control background and experience in corporate management and/or financial accounting practices to succeed Mr Liu Xiaosong.”
The reports said that while new director Ma Juan is well educated and has an academic background, she does not have a professional accounting background or knowledge and financial audit experience.
“The Beingmate company is facing a lot of financial and internal control issues, and the independent director will also serve as a member of the audit committee.
“Although Ms Ma Juan has the qualifications for a single director, she is not suitable at this time as a candidate to replace Liu Xiaosong.”
Zhu and Priem recommended another candidate for the board but that person did not succeed.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
Meat Industry Association data, released alongside the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington, shows export value climbing across the US, China, UK and Canada.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.