Ah Tatua, You've Done It Again!
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
Synlait has cut its forecast farmgate milk price for the 2016-17 season by 10c to $6.15/kgMS.
The total forecast milk price is $6.29/kgMS for the season, including 14c premium payments.
That average premium payment will go to Synlait’s Canterbury milk suppliers creating value behind the farmgate with seasonal and special milk progammes such as a2 Milk, Grass Fed and Lead With Pride.
“These premiums reward our suppliers for differentiating milk on their farm. The forecast increase from our 2015-16 premium of $0.11/kgMS reflects a growing number of our suppliers wanting to make more from milk,” says John Penno, managing director and chief executive.
Synlait’s forecast base milk price has been cut from $6.25/kgMS announced in February following a significant drop in the dairy market.
Penno says the company had been signalling to its milk suppliers that the $6.25/kgMS forecast was under pressure because of the market’s rapid downturn. (The GDT price index dropped more than 9% in late February and early March.)
“Gradual price improvements at the end of the season have made up some of the losses taken in March, but those improvements have been too late in the season to maintain the $6.25/kgMS forecast,” says Penno. Synlait’s final milk price for the 2016-17 season will be confirmed in late September.
Its forecast milk price for the 2017-18 season is $6.50/kgMS.
Fonterra Co-operative Group chief financial officer Andrew Murray has resigned to take up a role outside the dairy giant.
A major move is about to get underway to improve the quality and viability of dairy beef and cattle in NZ.
Veterinarians say changes to the code of welfare for dairy cattle provides a positive foundation for improved cattle welfare across the country.
Today, 15 October, is the International Day of Rural Women, which recognises rural women’s contribution to farming, communities and the environment.
Global dairy giant Lactalis has integrated its Australian operations with the Mainland Dairy consumer business it acquired from Fonterra earlier this year.
High country stations, mixed sheep and beef farms, Māori-owned farms, corporates and family operations are among the nine commercial farms taking part in the Livestock Innovation Farming Transformation programme, known as LIFT.