Fonterra FY26 Results: $9.69 Milk Price, $3.4bn Profit
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
Fonterra has announced it will continue with the planned expansion of its organic business into the South Island.
This follows strong interest from farmers wanting to join the programme.
Anne Douglas, group director of Fonterra Farm Source, says the expansion will be welcome news for those farmers.
"We’re pleased to be able to extend a specialty milk offering like this to South Island farmers and support them to be a part of a well-established organic programme,” Douglas says.
“We’re now working towards processing organic milk in the South Island from 2028/29, while we also focus on helping converting farmers achieve organic certification over the next couple of seasons.”
Douglas says the expansion will help Fonterra meet the growing demand for organic products globally and strengthen the contribution organics makes to the wider Co-op’s earnings.
“It’s another example of the value the Co-op can create for its shareholders when customer demand, on-farm capabilities and long-term investment decisions are all aligned,” she says.
The confirmation of the expansion comes as Fonterra announces a record forecast Organic Milk Price for the current season.
The 2025/26 forecast Organic Milk Price range is now $13.90 - $14.10 per kgMS, with a record midpoint of $14.00 per kgMS. This is up from the previous forecast midpoint of $13.35 per kgMS announced in February.
Fonterra also announced today an opening forecast range for the 2026/27 Organic Milk Price of $13.00 - $15.00 per kgMS, with a midpoint of $14.00 per kgMS.
Fonterra's general manager organics, Andrew Henderson, says the forecasts reflect the value global customers place on high quality New Zealand organic dairy.
“Our organic dairy remains highly sought after and that demand reflects the work our farmers put in each day to produce high-quality organic dairy that meets those expectations,” Henderson says.
“We’re looking forward to supporting the farmers who have signed up to join our existing pool of organic farms, including those who will now be converting their farm systems.”
Fonterra’s support package for farmers making the switch to organic includes conversion incentives, advice, networking opportunities and linking farmers up with peers who can mentor them through the process.
Henderson is encouraging farmers still considering their options to get in touch and learn more about the organic business.
“There’s still room to expand our organic programme and we’re welcoming conversations with farmers in both the North and South Islands about what converting to organics might look like for their business.”
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
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.