Medals galore for Fonterra cheeses
Fonterra cheeses are continuing their golden run at the annual New Zealand Cheese Awards.
Fonterra collected more milk in February thanks to better pasture growth in most parts of the country.
The co-operative collected 136.5 million kgMS, 2.3% higher than the same month last season.
It says February saw a generally settled end to summer across the country, but with some bouts of wet and windy weather.
"Other than the far north of the North Island and Fiordland in the South Island, the whole country was sunnier than average for the time of the year.
"In regions that had rainfall with that warm weather, good pasture growth resulted."
North Island milk collection for the month reached 73.9 million kgMS, 5.9% higher than February last season. Northland experienced well above average rainfall, going some way to alleviating the very dry conditions that region had been experienced throughout summer.
South Island milk collection was 62.6 million kgMS, 1.7% behind February last season.
It says higher than average temperatures with favourable growing conditions across much of the South Island led to better than average conditions.
"While these were down on February last season, South Island collections in February 2020 were among the strongest in recent seasons."
However, in Australia the co-op's milk collection continues to dip.
It collected 7.2 million kgMS, a 5.8% decrease on February last season.
"Lower herd numbers combined with increased consumption of lower quality home-grown fodder instead of supplementary feed are continuing to impact milk production growth across Australia."
Fonterra's season-to-date collections in Australia are down 1.8% on last year.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.
OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…