Top dairy CEO quits
Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)
Westland Milk Products says its 2.5% drop in peak milk processing has meant more capacity available for the cooperative and its shareholders, enabling more focus on added-value product.
Chief executive Rod Quin today confirmed that Westland hit peak mid November. In total, Westland processed 3.84 million litres of milk by peak flow, compared with 3.93 L the season prior.
"This slight drop, combined with our new dryer seven coming into commercial production meant we had greater capacity to put more of the peak milk flow into higher value products," says Quin.
"In previous years peak milk has all been channelled into bulk milk powders to maintain throughput, which give a lower return compared to products such as infant formula.
Based on the current demand from infant formula customers, we expect the end of season results will show that we have sold more value-add product at a higher profit margin."
Quin notes that the trend for reduced production at Westland and across the New Zealand dairy industry as a whole is expected to continue and global markets should not be banking on New Zealand lifting or even maintaining its production this season.
The predicted El Nino weather pattern in the coming months is also likely to keep production down, says Quin. Canterbury farms are expected to face dryer conditions and possible irrigation restrictions, while West Coast Farms are predicted to experience a wetter and colder season – both tending to result in less milk coming off-farm.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
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.
OPINION: Microplastics are turning up just about everywhere in the global food supply, including in fish, cups of tea, and…
OPINION: At a time when dairy prices are at record highs, no one was expecting the world's second largest dairy…