ANZ Warns of Milk Price Risks as New Dairy Season Begins
The new dairy season is kicking off with plenty of risks to the forecast farmgate price, both upside and downside, says ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly.
Westland Milk has reaffirmed its commitment to pay farmer suppliers 10c above Fonterra farm gate milk price for the following two seasons.
Chief executive Richard Wyeth says the announcement will give certainty to their 400 farmer suppliers.
"There was some conjecture about payment and we've put that to bed," he told Dairy News.
Westland has been paying 10c above Fonterra's farm gate milk price for the past few seasons. The deal will now extend until the 2025-26 season.
Another milk processor, Synlait, faces the risk of farmer suppliers switching their supply to other processors like Westland and Fonterra.
Wyeth says they aren't actively advertising for suppliers.
"But i there are new suppliers interested in supplying Westland, our milk supply team will be happy to talk to them."
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
Power Farming has launched a joint venture in Southland.
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