Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
A new bill detailing proposals to oversee Fonterra’s farm gate milk price setting and ensure a more transparent and efficient dairy market was tabled in Parliament yesterday by Primary Industries Minister David Carter.
“Because of Fonterra’s dominance in the New Zealand market, the price it pays its farmers for milk at the farm gate effectively becomes the default price all dairy processors must pay to attract supply from farmers,” says Carter.
“The Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill will oversee how Fonterra sets the price it pays its farmers, thereby ensuring a competitive and innovative dairy industry.
“The proposed regime will give confidence that the aim of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act – to drive efficiency in the dairy industry through contestable milk supply – is being met.”
Carter says the bill will primarily embed Fonterra’s current milk price governance arrangements in legislation, require Fonterra to publicly disclose information on its milk price setting and introduce an annual milk price monitoring regime to be undertaken by the Commerce Commission.
The Bill also includes changes that enable Fonterra to move to its proposed Trading Among Farmers (TAF) system, should it choose to.
Carter says potential changes to the Raw Milk Regulations are still being considered and an announcement on these is expected shortly.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
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