Editorial: Fewer herds, more milk
OPINION: The latest New Zealand Dairy Statistics report paints a picture of an industry trending towards fewer but larger herds.
In the six months to November 2012, LIC achieved revenue of $131.5 million compared to $120.1 million for the same period in 2011. The improvement resulted from growth in demand as LIC had minimal, or no increase in product or service pricing.
This, says LIC chairman Murray King, is a result of farmers, despite conservative times, investing in the products which drive farmer prosperity.
"The start of the dairy season is when most of our activity takes place – with herd testing, herd recording, artificial breeding and animal health – and that coincided, this season, with a drop in dairy payout, from the previous season's high.
"Despite this, demand grew with increases of 7.6% in herd testing, 10.9% in dairy genetics, 31.9% in DNA parentage testing, 17.6% in farm software, 2.7% in farm automation systems and 21.1% increase in animal health services like BVD testing – to mention just a few.
"In good and in challenging times farmers invest in products which will have a material impact on the profitability of their animals and the performance of their farms and growth in demand has been seen across all our product and service offerings.
"The good thing is that LIC is a dairy farmer owned cooperative, so everything we do – from products and services, to the profit, dividends and research and development – all return to our shareholders."
Profit attributable to shareholders (net profit after tax) was $30 million compared to $28 million in 2011. No revaluation of biological assets was done in November (or 2011).
LIC's business, particularly artificial breeding, is highly seasonal. Half year results incorporate the majority of the AB revenues, but not a similar proportion of total costs, and are not therefore indicative of the second half result not the full year result.
The balance sheet remains strong with total equity of $214.6 million compared to $199.7 million at the same time last year.
Total operating cash flow for the six months was a net cash outflow of $5.6 million which compares to $0.6 million net cash outflow in the previous year, the difference mainly due to timing of cash outflows.
