"Our" business?
OPINION: One particular bone the Hound has been gnawing on for years now is how the chattering classes want it both ways when it comes to the success of NZ's dairy industry.
Fonterra Shareholders' Council chairman, Duncan Coull, said today's interim results announcement was in line with forecasts, and the expectations of the council.
Coull noted the board's decision to pay out an interim dividend of 20 cents per share, and to accelerate the final dividend payments, would be very well-received by farmer shareholders and go some way to alleviating immediate on-farm cash-flow pressures.
"With the forecast milk price remaining at $3.90 per kg/MS, farmer shareholders' expectations are that the value-add side of their business will provide them the much talked about counter-cyclical benefits.
"The results in this regard are encouraging in that the business, on the back of weaker global demand, has moved volume into higher value which has contributed to the lift in interim profit.
"A clear focus on driving cash into the business is also evident in terms of free cash flow and a reduction in gearing ratio.
"It is important that the board continues to drive the business forward as the performance of some business units, such as Australia, Venezuela and China Farms are having a negative effect on the business.
"However, the council looks forward to the current positive momentum continuing and translating into more cash for our farmers."
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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