Four Candidates Confirmed for Fonterra Board Election
Four candidates have been confirmed for two director positions on Fonterra’s board.
Fonterra has announced an opening forecast milk price range of $6.25 to $7.25/kgMS for the new season.
The co-op says the price range will narrow as the season progresses. The 2019/20 advance rate schedule has been set off $6.75/kgMS.
Chairman John Monaghan says this is a realistic opening forecast.
“We are having to look out more than a year into the future which is difficult, but what the information available is continuing to show us is that demand remains strong across key trading partners and this is reflected in GDT prices.
“We are giving farmers a wide range for the opening forecast milk price. It will be narrowed as the season goes on.”
Weather plays a significant role in determining global milk volumes, and therefore price.
Fonterra is forecasting New Zealand collections to be 1,520 million kgMS for the new season, up slightly on the current season.
However, Monaghan says there’s “still a lot of water to go under the bridge before we’ll have a clear view of what the season holds for both our co-op’s production and global dairy supply”.
Fonterra has also narrowed its 2018-19 forecast Farmgate Milk Price range by 20 cents to $6.30 - $6.40/kgMS.
This reflects favourable foreign exchange movements but slightly weaker than expected pricing for whole milk powder and skim milk powder.
The co-op has now contracted the majority of its farmers’ milk for the current season and has greater certainty on the likely closing Farmgate Milk Price. This is also reflected in the tighter forecast range, it says.
A major move is about to get underway to improve the quality and viability of dairy beef and cattle in NZ.
Veterinarians say changes to the code of welfare for dairy cattle provides a positive foundation for improved cattle welfare across the country.
Today, 15 October, is the International Day of Rural Women, which recognises rural women’s contribution to farming, communities and the environment.
Global dairy giant Lactalis has integrated its Australian operations with the Mainland Dairy consumer business it acquired from Fonterra earlier this year.
After almost two decades of sharemilking, saving and building equity, Aaron and Marcia Flay this year realised their long-held dream of settling on their first dairy farm.
Good medium to long term prospects for NZ beef, especially in the US, has heighted the focus on various initiatives to capitalise on this situation.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.