Winston's crusade
OPINION: A short-term sugar hit. That's what NZ First leader Winston Peters is calling the proposed sale of Fonterra's consumer and associated businesses.
Fonterra Shareholders, the Woolerton family, get ready for Christmas with Fonterra tanker driver Shane Vercoe
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.”
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.
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