Dairy unity
OPINION: A last-minute compromise ensured that the election of the new Federated Farmers national dairy chair wasn't a repeat of the Super 15 rugby final - Canterbury versus Waikato.
OPINION: The Government is considering only allowing water, low-fat milk or plant-based milk in schools to reduce the sugar intake of young students.
The proposed law change, laid out in a recently published consultation document, aims to reverse a trend revealed by research showing that dental decay is now the most common disease reported among children in New Zealand.
Students could be offered plain water, reduced or low-fat milk, as well as unsweetened reduced or low-fat plant-based milks - including soy, rice, almond and oat - with added calcium and vitamin B12.
While such a move may help, most schools have dairies outside their gates promoting sugary drinks. Should they also be banned from selling sugary drinks to students?
Questions are being raised about just how good the state of the dairy industry is - especially given that the average farmgate payout for the coming season is set to exceed $10/kgMS.
A leading financial and banking advisor says he doubts if most dairy farmers fully understand the dynamics of banking.
Dairy farmers are shoring up their balance sheets, with almost $1.7 billion of debt repaid in the six months to March 2025.
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
A former Fonterra executive is the new chair of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
New Federated Farmers national dairy chair Karl Dean is looking forward to tackling the issues facing the sector.