Pallet maker retains Fonterra contract
Timpack, one of New Zealand's largest wooden pallet and bin manufacturers, has been rewarded an exclusive contract to supply Fonterra.
As a cooperative, Fonterra has a responsibility to its farmers to operate as efficiently as possible across every facet of its business, including vendor pricing and terms, says a spokesman.
"This will drive more cash back to our farmers, in turn helping strengthen rural economies," the written statement to the Dairy News says.
It was commenting on the letter which went out to about 4000 of its suppliers late last year wanting a 10% cut in prices and advising payment would now be 61 days after the end of the month an invoice was received.
"This is just one change we have made as part of a business-wide review and includes changes to our internal processes allowing us to be more responsive with our vendors and reduce our turnaround times with them," the spokesman says.
"We acknowledge that changes in payment terms will have an impact on vendors, and are working with them to help manage any potential impacts.
"The move to a 61 day term is in keeping with Fonterra's global standard term, which is already in place in many of our markets. The process of moving our vendors to our standard term has been underway for the last five years."
The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.
WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.
Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.
Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.
Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.
Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.
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