Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
The $8.40/kgMS payout was probably the worst thing that happened to the dairy industry, says family corporate farmer Trevor Hamilton.
He says in the present era of market volatility and low payouts, farmers need to go and check the balance sheet and really delve into their cost structure.
Hamilton, who has farms in the North and South Islands, says farmers need to get costs down to about $3.50/kgMS.
"My personal view is that if you average the Fonterra milk price over the last ten years it's about $6.00. So medium term if you have a sound business at about $6.00 you are probably ok. But if you haven't, you could well do with an assessment of your business."
Hamilton says dairy companies such as Tatua and Westland Milk Products, with a higher percentage of value add products, are more shielded from the volatility of the commodity market. He says while Fonterra does have some value add products, it's a very small percentage of their business. But he says it's hard to blame Fonterra for this given that they have to take all the milk produced in NZ.
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.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
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