What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
The app has already been downloaded over 3500 times by farmers and sharemilkers.
The Fencepost app was launched for Fonterra's farmers in February. Now approved third-party Fencepost users, are able to download it too.
A New Zealand first, the free smartphone app gives farmers, and people they nominate, access to vital production and quality information wherever they are and at any time.
Fonterra director of milk supply, Steve Murphy, says farmer feedback has been very positive, especially around the easy access to milk production figures.
"The nature of farming means farmers are often away from their computers so they've really valued having this information on their smartphones. The new app means they can access confidential milk production and quality figures anywhere, anytime."
Waikato based farmer Chris Tomalin, left, manages three farms and says the app is great for time management. "I can grab that key information, from wherever I may be - out in the field or even off the farm. This means there's no time wasted heading back to log in to my computer.
"It also means that I can get that information much earlier in the day."
Murphy says the app represents a step forward for the co-op's quality assurance and service delivery to farmers.
"By supporting our farmers to check vital production and quality information from their smartphones, they are now able to make timelier on-farm decisions and can be alerted of any potential quality issues wherever they are."
Through the app, farmers, and now other approved Fencepost users, can access their relevant milk production and quality information from the last 10 days of milk collection, as well as month and season summaries.
The app is free and can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play.
