Milking longer with maize silage
This season's dry conditions have made one thing clear: not having enough feed on hand can bring your season to an early close.
Fonterra farmers are in line for a record milk price of $10/kgMS this season.
The co-operative today raised the midpoint of the 2024/25 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price by 50 cents to $10/kgMS.
The new forecast range of $9.50-$10.50/kgMS reflects the ongoing strength of the global market.
“We’re committed to providing farmers the highest sustainable milk price, so I'm pleased to announce another lift in the forecast for the season,” says Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell.
“We’re seeing a recovery of demand in Greater China as domestic milk production rebalances and demand from Southeast Asia continues to be strong.
“Looking at supply, milk production out of the US and Europe continues to be impacted by local factors, while production out of most regions of New Zealand has increased.
“We’re continuing to monitor factors that may influence global supply and demand dynamics, including any potential impact from heightened geopolitical uncertainty,” says Hurrell.
Fonterra’s previous best milk price was $9.30/kgMS, paid in 2021-22.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
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.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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