increase font size
May was a bumper month for milk collection in the North Island.
Fonterra says its milk collection for the season just ended almost hit 1,540 million kgMS, 1.5% ahead of the previous season.
The North Island fared better in the 2020- 21 season with full season collection of 908 million kgMS, 3.9% ahead of last season. The South Island’s full season collection dropped 1.8% to 630 million kgMS.
Full season New Zealand milk production for the 12 months to May was 2.6% higher than last year.
May was a bumper months for milk production in the North Island. Fonterra’s New Zealand collection for May was 75.3 million kgMS, 7.7% higher than May last season. North Island collection reached 38.6 million kgMS, a whopping 28.6% improvement.
May collections continued the strength seen in April, benefiting from warm and sunny weather with useful rainfall in many areas giving favourable growing conditions, the co-operative says.
However, it was a different story for the South Island: May collection was 36.7 million kgMS, behind 8%. Fonterra says collections for South Island began to drop off more quickly during the second half of May than in recent seasons.
“The heavy rain in the last weekend of the month caused flooding in some areas, with disruption to collections as a result.”
Fonterra says overall May started with settled weather across the country before rain arrived for western areas towards the middle of the month. Warmer and drier conditions returned in the second half of the month, with already dry regions of both islands missing out on meaningful rainfall. Temperatures were above May average across the country, and sunshine hours higher than average for most regions.
Oz Collections Steady
Fonterra collected 7.7 million kgMS from its Australian suppliers in May, a 0.2% increase on May last season.
However, season-to-date collection was 1% down on last season, with favourable on-farm conditions throughout the season stabilising milk production.
The co-op says favourable autumn conditions across Victoria and Tasmania has meant stable milk production in May.
Total Australian milk production was flat in April compared to April last year.
Fonterra says despite favourable seasonal conditions and increased farmer confidence, reduced herd numbers, farm exits, and labour shortages are constraining milk production growth across Australia.
Dairy Australia is forecasting milk production to be -1% to +1% for the 2020/21 season. Australia milk production for the 12 months to April was 1.3% higher than last year.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
Fonterra says it takes the ongoing threat of 'adverse cyber action' extremely seriously.
Despite the turmoil in global markets, Fonterra is continuing with a dual track process to divest its multi-billion dollars consumer businesses.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
Fonterra has named Elizabeth (Liz) Coutts the chair of Mainland Group, the proposed divestment entity of the co-operative’s consumer business.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: Should Greenpeace be stripped of their charitable status? Farmers say yes.
OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.
