fbpx
Print this page
Wednesday, 14 April 2021 10:55

More grass, more milk

Written by  Staff Reporters
Fonterra says February saw a generally settled end to summer across the country, with cows producing more milk. Fonterra says February saw a generally settled end to summer across the country, with cows producing more milk.

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.

More like this

Fonterra's in good shape

Fonterra released its interim results last month, showing a continuation of the strong earnings performance delivered by the co-op through the 2023 financial year. Here’s what Fonterra chair Peter McBride and chief executive Miles Hurrell said about the results…

China trade

OPINION: Last week's revelation that data relating to New Zealand MPs was stolen amid Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage targeting two arms of the country’s Parliament could test the long-standing trade relations between the two countries.

Featured

Vaccinate against new lepto strain

A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.

TV series to combat food waste

Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.

National

Frontline biosecurity 'untouchable'

Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard has reiterated that 'frontline' biosecurity services within Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will not be cut…

Machinery & Products

New name, new ideas

KGM New Zealand, is part of the London headquartered Inchcape Group, who increased its NZ presence in August 2023 with…

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…