increase font size
Genesis Energy has launched an electricity supply plan which it claims is the first ever tailored specifically for dairy farms.
The plan divides up electricity pricing into bands across the day that take into account the varying loads of a working dairy shed.
Genesis says it should save 5% to 25% on a shed’s electricity costs, depending on whether the farmer continues operating the shed exactly as before or shifts what loads he can to the off-peak periods.
The plan, branded For Dairy, is being marketed to farmers through Fonterra’s Farm Source.
Genesis executive general manager James Magill says For Dairy recognises that the way dairy farmers use electricity is far from standard.
“We know the milking shed is central to a dairy farming business and that the electricity it uses is at off-peak and shoulder times of the day, when everyone else is sleeping or at work. Essentially we’re rewarding farmers for using energy when no one else is.
“We’ve created a tool to show exactly how For Dairy works and bring its benefits to life for dairy farmers. It graphs and forecasts their electricity use and savings, allowing for seasonal variations and usage patterns during a typical milking day,” says Magill.
Fonterra Farm Source group director Richard Allen says energy costs farmers a lot of money, “so we’ve been focused on finding the best deal for our farmers and it’s great to have Genesis on board and investing in innovations to enable this”.
Magill says one participating farmers reviewed his usage and realised an immediate cost saving.
“Instead of leaving the water pump running around the clock, we suggested he get a timer so he could set it to turn on when he needed it, which was during off-peak times, getting the pump warmed up right before the milking schedule and allowing it to cool down soon after.”
Genesis will also give dairy farmers greater transparency by splitting out the network charges from the energy charges. – Nigel Malthus
OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Fresh produce grower and exporter T&G Global has overturned last year’s dismal performance by reporting a half year net profit of $1.7 million.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
OPINION: The Government has been seeking industry feedback on its proposed amendments to a range of Resource Management Act (RMA) national direction instruments.
