New associate director for DairyNZ
After 20 years of milking cows, Northland farmer Greg Collins is ready to step into the governance side of dairy.
Fonterra farmers acknowledge that the forecast 2023-24 farmgate milk price range of $6 - $7.50/kgMS is well below break-even point for many of them.
Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson says of key interest to the council and to Fonterra farmers is to what extent the strong earnings and return on capital for FY23 can be sustained in FY24 and beyond.
The council notes that the top end of the FY24 forecast earnings range of 45-60 cents per share is above the FY24 target of 45-55 cents per share announced in September 2021, but well below FY23's normalised 80 cents per share.
"Management has reported that the favourable price relativities we've experenced across FY23 have reduced from their peaks," says Stevenson.
He says farmers haev reported to them that they are encouraged to see that the business is trying to improve underlying performance outside of stream returns through its focus on reducing costs across the co-op and the two new efficiency metrics that have been announced.
Council will take a keen interest in monitoring progress against these metrics when the FY24 interim results are announced, noting the FY23 figures of $1.39 cash cash operating expenses per kgMS and $9.21 gross profit from core operations per kgMS that were reported.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) awards. As part of a series looking at this year’s rural winners, Leo Argent talked with Ginny Dodunski, winner of the Veterinary Impact Award for raising the profile of the Wormwise programme.
Recently two of New Zealand's top Maori sheep and beef farms held field days as part of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy competition. The two are: Whangaroa Ngaiotonga Trust, northeast of Whangarei, and the proprietors of Tawapata Onenui farm on Mahia Peninsula in southern Hawke's Bay. Reporter Peter Burke attended both field days.
The New Zealand hemp industry is hoping for quick and comprehensive reform of its legislative framework after a recent "historic" visit to sites in Canterbury by a big group of politicians, officials and industry stakeholders.
Resolving rural sector disputes constructively, fairly and with long-term outcomes in mind will top the agenda at a gathering of experts in Hamilton next month.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.