increase font size
FORMER FONTERRA director Greg Gent is confident the co-op will continue to be a major player on the international dairy market.
Gent says New Zealand is not Fonterra's key market and it has to shine in the international markets.
"We are only 10% of Nestle," he told Dairy News. "Out there in the international market, we are competing with the big boys. And we have to remain a major global player."
Gent – who along with chairman Henry van der Heyden – joined the Fonterra board at its inception 10 years ago, says it was time to step down.
"Ten years is a long time," he says.
Gent spent 18 years as a dairy company director – including chairman of Northland Dairy and then chairman of Kiwi Dairy after it merged with Northland.
Van der Heyden says Gent is "one of the best farmer directors" he has served with.
"Greg's understanding of the global dairy business is very good. He also always put the dairy industry and Fonterra before his interests. This is always easier said than done."
Gent received a standing ovation from Fonterra shareholders at its annual meeting in Whangarei last week.
Research lending to the production of dairy products that benefit the elderly and improves the overall wellbeing of all people is a key focus of Fonterra's Research and Development centre, based in Palmerston North.
Milk processors are either matching or beating Fonterra's record $10/kgMS opening forecast milk price as the 2025-26 season gets underway.
Fonterra has announced a record forecast opening organic milk price of $12.30/kgMS for the new season.
Australian dairy farmers supplying Fonterra are getting an opening weighted average milk price of A$8.60/kgMS for the new season or around NZ$9.26/kgMS - NZ74c less than New Zealand suppliers, based on the current exchange rate.
A record $10/kgMS opening forecast milk price for the new season means more money into Fonterra farmers pockets early, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.
Dairy farmers are set to benefit from the radical sweeping changes the Government is planning to make to the regulations that form part of the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The reported surge in interest in dairy conversions should be put into the context of falling overall cow numbers and improving environmental performance, says DairyNZ.
New Zealand's top trade official has told dairy farmers that their sector faces the most trade barriers internationally.
Waikato sharemilker Matthew Zonderop had no inkling that one day he would become a matchmaker for cows.
The coveted post of Federated Farmers' national dairy chair will see a two-way contest at the Federated Farmers annual meeting later this month.
Research lending to the production of dairy products that benefit the elderly and improves the overall wellbeing of all people is a key focus of Fonterra's Research and Development centre, based in Palmerston North.
