Wednesday, 24 June 2015 11:26

What now for freebies?

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Are dairy farmers responsible for providing breakfast to needy children? We don’t think so.

With the milk payout falling and little sign of a bounce-back in the near future, many farmers are struggling to break even. Yet, Fonterra is forking out nearly $20 million for milk for schools.

The management review of Fonterra should be widened to include freebies Fonterra is giving the community; these might be a good public relations exercise but in these tough times every dollar should be returned to farmer shareholders, not thrown at a need the Government must take responsibility for.

Featured

High commodity prices, farmer optimism bode well for event

The 2025 South Island Agricultural Field Days (SIAFD) chairman, Rangiora farmer Andrew Stewart, is predicting a successful event on the back of good news coming out of the farming sector and with it a greater level of optimism among farmers.

Accident triggers traffic alert in barns, sheds

WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds, following a sentencing for a death at one of South Canterbury’s biggest agribusinesses.

Plantain 'still a winner' in nitrogen loss battle

Now is not the time to stop incorporating plantain into dairy pasture systems to reduce nitrogen (N) loss, says Agricom Australasia brand manager Mark Brown.

People expos set to return

Building on the success of last year's events, the opportunity to attend People Expos is back for 2025, offering farmers the chance to be inspired and gain more tips and insights for their toolkits to support their people on farm.

SustaiN lands NZ registration

Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser SustaiN – which contains a urease inhibitor that reduces the amount of ammonia released to the air – has now been registered by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI). It is the first fertiliser in New Zealand to achieve this status.

Precision N application test costs 'outweigh returns'

Precision application of nitrogen can improve yields, but the costs of testing currently outweigh improved returns, according to new research from Plant and Food Research, MPI and Ravensdown.