Strong growth for Yili's NZ operations
Chinese dairy giant Yili Group says its New Zealand operations are on track for strong revenue growth in 2025 after recording significant year-on-year growth for the first half of the year.
Independent dairy processor Westland Milk has reduced its payout prediction for the 2018-19 season.
A drop in butter prices has forced the co-op to revise its predicted 2018-19 payout range to $6.50/kgMS to $6.90/kgMS.
Four months ago, the co-op was predicting a payout range of $6.75 to $7.20.
Westland chairman Pete Morrison says the revised forecast payout “is in line with other milk processors”.
Chief executive Toni Brendish says Westland was now implementing its new five-year strategy, the key to which is milk segregation, and the continual focus on improving internal systems and process, which were now starting to deliver results.
“During the 2017-18 season we proved our ability to identify, separately collect and process milk with key characteristics that carry significantly more value in the market place and return increased premiums.
“We’re working with Southern Pastures to produce grass-fed milk to a set of very high standards that include strict environmental, animal welfare, feed management, soil and water management and other criteria that will set this milk apart.
“Our comparatively smaller processing plant gives us the flexibility to produce nutritional products for very specific niche markets with increasing global demand. Other types of speciality milk will also soon be available,” she says.
Tributes have flowed following the death of former Prime Minister and political and business leader, Jim Bolger. He was 90.
A drop in methane targets announced by the Government this month has pleased farmers but there are concerns that without cross-party support, the targets would change once a Labour-led Government is voted into office.
Farmer shareholders of meat processor Alliance have voted in favour of a proposed $270 million joint venture investment by Irish company, Dawn Meats.
The former chair of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and farmer, Doug Leeder, says rural communities' biggest fear right now is the lack of long-term certainty over environmental regulations.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters is ratcheting up pressure on Fonterra farmers as they vote on divesting the co-operative’s consumer and related businesses.
Alliance Group's Pure South Handpicked 55 Day Aged Beef has been recognised on the world stage, securing top honours at the World Steak Challenge in the Netherlands.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.