Data sharing initiative wins national award for saving farmers time
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
Fonterra has confirmed all of its staff in New Zealand are safe following the earthquake overnight and there is no major damage to any of its manufacturing sites.
It does expect some milk collection disruption due to road closures and other issues accessing farms in the top of the South Island.
“We’re extremely relieved to confirm there are no injuries to any of our staff around the country, and our focus continues to be making sure we can contact and support as many of our farmers in affected areas as we can,” says Fonterra’s Farm Source chief operating officer, Miles Hurrell.
Some farms that remain without power, or those that cannot be reached by tanker due to road closures, may need to dispose of their milk. Hurrell confirmed that Fonterra will contact farmers directly if disposal is required.
“We’re doing our best to reach everyone who is due for collection immediately. With power out and phone lines down in some areas, that includes putting Farm Source teams on the road to go door to door to try to update those farmers with the latest information,” he says.
Road conditions in Kaikoura mean there are about 30 farms in the area that may not have their milk collected, while others around the country may have late collections as tankers are rerouted.
Meanwhile, most of Fonterra’s manufacturing sites around the country are fully operational today and processing milk as usual.
“We will continue carrying out safety assessments over the course of the day but at this stage we are comfortable there are no significant structural concerns or on-going impact on the normal running of our business,” said chief operating officer for global operations, Robert Spurway.
“This has been a frightening event for many of our communities and our thoughts are with those who are suffering losses.”
Boutique Waikato cheese producer Meyer Cheese is investing in a new $3.5 million facility, designed to boost capacity and enhance the company's sustainability credentials.
OPINION: The Government's decision to rule out changes to Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) that would cost every farmer thousands of dollars annually, is sensible.
Compensation assistance for farmers impacted by Mycoplama bovis is being wound up.
Selecting the reverse gear quicker than a lovestruck boyfriend who has met the in-laws for the first time, the Coalition Government has confirmed that the proposal to amend Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) charged against farm utes has been canned.
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
OPINION: Years of floods and low food prices have driven a dairy farm in England's northeast to stop milking its…
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content…