Editorial: Happy days
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Westpac senior agricultural economist Nathan Penny expects prices to remain elevated as global supply remains very tight.
However, the bank is sticking to its forecast milk price of $9.25/kgMS for this season.
Penny says, at some stage, they anticipate that Covid restrictions in China will ease further and take dairy demand higher as a result.
"At that time, global dairy prices are likely to get a further boost."
However, he says last week's Global Dairy Trade auction result is consistent with its current forecast.
Fonterra has a wide ranging forecast milk for the season - $8.25/kgMS to $9.75/kgMS.
Penny notes that the mixed nature of the result suggests prices are in a holding pattern.
"At the last auction the market factored in better Covid news in terms of easing restrictions in China.
"But with no fresh news to digest on that front, the price moves reflected changes in product mix rather than any underlying factors."
A buoyant farm economy should make for a successful 2026 Southern Field Days, says chairman Steve Henderson.
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The strong wool market has improved in the past six months, despite drops in production over recent years.
On January 5th at Te Pa Station, the World Sheep Shearing Records saw a new nine-hour strong wool ewes shearing record set by Simon Goss.
Recently awarded in the New Years Honours List for Services to Agriculture and Governance, well known dairy farmer Lloyd Downing has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM).
International trade expert Stephen Jacobi says Winston Peters' objections to the Indian free trade deal are "ridiculous".
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