Fonterra trims board size
Fonterra’s board has been reduced to nine - comprising six farmer-elected and three appointed directors.
Fonterra has confirmed its payout forecast range for the 2012/13 season of $5.90 - $6.00 before retentions for a fully shared up farmer, unchanged from the previous forecast range.
Fonterra is required to consider its Farmgate Milk Price every quarter as a condition of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA).
The cooperative confirmed today a forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the 2012/13 season of $5.50 per kilogram of milksolids, unchanged from the previous forecast. Fonterra's forecast Earnings Per Share range remains at 40-50 cents.
Fonterra Chief Executive Theo Spierings said dry weather conditions, particularly in the North Island, in mid-December and January had resulted in a slowdown in milk supply growth.
"We had a strong start to the season and milk collection volumes were running 6% ahead of last season on a year-to-date basis," says Spierings. "However, the dry conditions mean we are currently forecasting total milk collection volumes to finish approximately 1% ahead for the full season."
Global dairy prices remained relatively flat through December and January, with the GDT-TWI increasing by 2% over this period. The index has since gained 5% in February. Given current global conditions, our Farmgate Milk Price forecast anticipates global dairy prices are likely to move higher in the second half of the season.
The current Farmgate Milk Price forecast of $5.50 kgMS is based on no substantial change to the current exchange rate for the rest of the season. If there was a further significant strengthening of the New Zealand dollar against the USD then this may adversely impact on the forecast Farmgate Milk Price.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
OPINION: Fonterra may have sold its dairy farms in China but the appetite for collaboration with the country remains strong.
OPINION: The Listener's latest piece on winter grazing among Southland dairy farmers leaves much to be desired.