Farmlands returns to profit with strong FY25 result
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
Construction has begun on Farmlands’ new Taranaki store.
The new store at 35 Hudson Road, Bell Block, is two kilometres from the current site and the new store opens September 2025.
Farmlands’ Taranaki team were at the site last month to celebrate the milestone in the traditional spade-wielding way.
Chief executive Tanya Houghton says the new store is all about delivering on Farmlands’ promise to better serve the region’s unique needs and provide a better customer experience for all customers.
With more parking, a dedicated delivery entry, a prime spot near the highway, and free recycling for HDPE plastic containers and small seed, feed and fertiliser bags in partnership with Agrecovery, the new site will be a significant upgrade on the current store.
“Taranaki’s mix of dairy, sheep, beef and regenerative farming deserves the best we can offer in tailored products and expertise,” Houghton says.
Construction updates will be going out to the local community in the coming months and a grand opening is planned for September 2025.
Farmlands is also opening a new bulk and retail store in Hastings in July, alongside its new Horticulture Hub. This is all part of Farmlands strategy to operate a regionally tailored service model, Houghton says.
“Ultimately everything we do is to provide our customers the best access to their essential rural supplies - through our retail network, our on-farm sales team, and digital tools the FarmlandsPRO app and Farmlands Card app.”
Federated Farmers says it is cautiously welcoming signals from the Government that a major shake-up of local government is on its way.
Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.
The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.
National Lamb Day is set to return in 2026 with organisers saying the celebrations will be bigger than ever.
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

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