Editorial: Agri's mojo is back
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
FONTERRA SAYS it’s still collecting 10% more milk than last year, with about 65 million litres/day coming in.
In a pre-Christmas press release reminding the public that while they “kick back” this holiday season, 13,350 members of the Fonterra family will be in the dairy shed, on the road and running the Co-operative’s 28 manufacturing sites.
“On Christmas day all of our 10,500 farmers will be putting the milking cups on; 850 drivers will be on the road; 1,800 manufacturing staff will be on site and 200 supply chain staff will be packing our export containers,” says managing director trade and operations Gary Romano.
“The good weather conditions have meant the milk is still really flowing. We broke production records in October – we collected a record 81.5 million litres on our biggest day which is not only higher than last year’s record, it’s also the first time in the Co-op’s history that we’ve collected more than 80 million litres in one day.
“We’re still collecting, processing and shipping around 10 per cent more milk than last year. In March this year, we exported a record 229,000 tonnes of product for the month. If things carry on the way they are in December, we’re on track to export close to 240,000 tonnes.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.