Top dairy CEO quits
Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products (WMP)
Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products, New Zealand’s second largest dairy co-operative, has lifted its payout prediction for the 2016-17 season to a net range (after retentions) of $5.30 to $5.70/kgMS.
The cooperative’s previous estimate for the season was a net range of $4.55 to $4.95/kgMS.
Chief executive Toni Brendish says the lift in payout prediction has been made possible by two factors.
“Firstly,” she says, “global dairy market prices have increased and Westland has been able to take advantage of that.
“Secondly, we have made a number of improvements to the efficiency of our production and quality assurance processes resulting in savings that can be passed on to shareholders.”
Brendish says the global dairy market remained volatile and industry commentators did not have a consensus on where final payout figures were likely to settle.
“The improvements in the market give us sufficient confidence to take a cautiously optimistic approach and raise our payout prediction accordingly.”
Brendish says that Westland would also raise its advance payout rate to shareholders to $4/kgMS (up from $3.80).
The Government is set to announce two new acts to replace the contentious Resource Management Act (RMA) with the Prime Minister hinting that consents required by farmers could reduce by 46%.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change would be “a really dumb move”.
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
Undoubtedly the doyen of rural culture, always with a wry smile, our favourite ginger ninja, Te Radar, in conjunction with his wife Ruth Spencer, has recently released an enchanting, yet educational read centred around rural New Zealand in one hundred objects.
Farmers are being urged to keep on top of measures to control Cysticerus ovis - or sheep measles - following a spike in infection rates.
The avocado industry is facing an extremely challenging season with all parts of the supply chain, especially growers, being warned to prepare for any eventuality.
OPINION: Dipping global dairy prices have already resulted in Irish farmers facing a price cut from processors.
OPINION: Are the heydays of soaring global demand for butter over?