Political Points
OPINION: Staying on Plan Change 1, NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones took to social media to gain some political points.
Milk collection in Waikato is now down 14% on daily collection last year, says Fonterra.
This reduction is highly unusual, the co-op says.
“Fonterra is continually assessing the ongoing impact on its contract book and future production plans, given that milk collections at the peak of this season will not recover and will flow into the balance of the season,” the co-op’s global dairy update for September says.
It has further reduced its forecast milk volume for the 2016-17 season from 1523 million kgMS to 1460m kgMS.
In September, Fonterra New Zealand milk collection decreased 2% and Fonterra Australia collection decreased 9%.
“Since then the continuing impact of materially wetter-than-normal spring weather in most regions has further reduced Fonterra’s milk volumes in NZ."
Daily milk volumes in the central and upper North Island were well down in early October.
Collection nationwide in the four months to September 30 reached 297m kgMS, 3% behind the same period last season. September milk collection was 175m kgMS, 2% lower than September last season.
North Island milk collection in September reached 110m kgMS, 5% behind September last season. Unfavourable weather continues to affect production in most dairying regions. High rainfall in October have made conditions difficult in many regions, most noticeably in the central region where daily production is down about 14% on last year.
South Island milk collection in September reached 64m kgMS, 3% above September last season. Initial October collections indicate milk volumes in the South Island have begun to decline and may fall below last season.
Tayla Steele is in her fourth year of a Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University in Palmerston North.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says no new cases of H5 bird flu have been detected following a case found earlier this week.
Two months after unveiling a major upgrade to its beef product, Halter says its farmers are on track for major production gains and additional grass growth.
New Zealanders are being urged to be alert following a confirmed positive case of H5 bird flu this week.
With a third of NZ dairy farmers still running outdated refrigerants, the country's largest farm refrigeration company says the opportunity for quick, meaningful emissions gains has never been clearer.
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