China's dairy pain
OPINION: It was only in 2018 that the Chinese Government embarked on a mission to lift domestic milk production and stop billions of dollars from leaving the country and into the hands of exporters like New Zealand.
OPINION: Earlier this month, small Waikato milk processor Tatua reminded the country that it’s still number one when it comes to paying farmers for their milk.
A final payout of $10.50/kgMS means Tatua’s 107 supplying shareholders will get over $2/kgMS more than other farmers around the country - a hard pill to swallow for some farmers, who are struggling to raise their businesses out of deficits.
The question is what is Tatua’s point of difference? It can’t be size because apart from Fonterra, other processors – Miraka, Westland, Synlait and even Open Country Dairy- are almost the same size as Tatua.
Farmers won’t be wrong in asking - if Tatua can do it, why not their processor?
A couple closing in on their ultimate farming dream is taking the first steps of another farming ambition – to own a line of registered pedigree Holstein Friesians.
Merging MetService and NIWA is the right thing to do, but independent weather forecaster Phil Duncan of WeatherWatch says he isn’t sure a merged entity will boost rural weather forecasting.
While walking through supermarket aisles, young South Auckland entrepreneur Saion Angi decided that there weren’t enough Pacific or Māori products on the shelves.
Don’t expect farmers to spend money on riparian planting and fencing if their businesses are running in deficit, says Waikato Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes.
Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson, who farms at Lawrence in Otago, has personally been actively involved in assessing the situation in his region.
Fancy a career in the red meat processing and exporting sector? Then here’s your chance to apply for a scholarship.
OPINION: Earlier this month, small Waikato milk processor Tatua reminded the country that it’s still number one when it comes…
OPINION: It was only in 2018 that the Chinese Government embarked on a mission to lift domestic milk production and…