Open Country unveils major expansion plan
Confirming its "immense faith" in the dairy industry, the country's second largest milk processor is embarking on a significant investment programme.
Open Country Dairy suppliers will receive $9.37/kgMS for milk supplied between June and September this year.
Farmer suppliers will be paid in full this month.
The price is 2c above last season's average milk price of $9.35/kgMS, a record payout by Open Country.
The company, which pays suppliers in full via four instalments during the year, paid $10.06/kgMS as January settlement period and $9.84/kgMS in May.
Open Country chief executive Steve Koekemoer says a string of very strong milk prices is testament of the way the business has performed.
"The business has performed extremely well and this is shown in our milk payments to farmers."
Global dairy prices have receded in recent months and Koekemoer says demand has been weaker than anticipated.
Demand in China expected to bounce back from Covid lockdowns, prices should come back.
"We anticipate prices to rise in the medium term," he says.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
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As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
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