$10/kgMS milk price tipped for strong 2025/26 season start
The 2025-26 season is set to start on a high and a $10/kgMS opening forecast milk price isn't being ruled out.
ASB has expanded its rural corporate business in the South Island with the appointment of two new rural corporate managers who both bring specialised regional knowledge to their roles.
Ray Parker has joined the ASB team and will be based in Dunedin. A qualified chartered accountant, Parker is former chief executive of Tasman Agriculture, which grew to become the world's largest pastoral dairy farm owning company with farms located in the South Island and Northwest Tasmania. Parker has also been employed by Fonterra Co-op Group as GM Shareholder Services and in 2002, developed his own businesses specialising in private investment and management consultancy work with a focus on NZ's commercial and rural sectors. Parker is looking forward to working with clients on the issues facing them and developing workable solutions that best fits their needs.
Andrew McGuckin has been appointed rural corporate manager. He will be based in Christchurch, having initially joined ASB Bank in Southland in November 2000 as a rural manager before returning to Christchurch to work with agri-businesses in the North Canterbury area. With a wealth of practical farming knowledge, McGuckin has developed his family's farming property in Waipara into a vineyard and is bringing his unique North Canterbury farming and rural banking experience to his clients in Canterbury and the upper South Island.
ASB's national manager for rural corporate Richard Hegan says, "In 2008, ASB was the first bank to establish a specialist rural corporate division specifically to look after the needs of both large scale and complex farming and agri-business customers. This division is resourced with the most experienced rural bankers and support teams to ensure the delivery of high quality outcomes for our customers. We are pleased to be increasing our commitment to rural businesses by increasing specialist staff with on-the-ground rural knowledge to provide unbeatable service and support to local agri-businesses and corporate farming operations."
Two butcheries have claimed victory at the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Awards for 2025.
A Taupiri farming company has been convicted and fined $52,500 in the Hamilton District Court for the unlawful discharge of dairy effluent into the environment.
The Climate Change Commission’s 2025 emissions reduction monitoring report reveals steady progress on the reduction of New Zealand’s climate pollution.
Another milestone has been reached in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis with the compensation assistance service being wound up after helping more than 1300 farmers.
The Government’s directive for state farmer Landcorp Farming (trading as Pamu) to lifts its performance is yielding results.
The move to bring bovine TB testing in-house at Ospri officially started this month, as a team of 37 skilled and experienced technicians begin work with the disease eradication agency.
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