Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride claims there’s been a change in the Government’s attitude towards the farming sector.
He says four years ago the relationship was “non-existent”.
“I think there has been a change in attitude. Relations with the Government has been as good as it has ever been,” McBride told the Northland Dairy Development Trust online conference last week.
During a question-and-answer session, McBride was asked if the agriculture sector’s economic contribution during the Covid pandemic was recognised and had changed the view in Wellington.
“They understand the issues, the tension and potential impact on overseas earnings and how important agriculture is.”
Speaking on greenhouse gas emissions and water quality legislation pondered by the Government, he says the farming sector is being challenged by the speed of travel.
The cooperative has been told by its sustainability advisory board to expect sustainability issues to travel faster, not slower.
McBride notes that it’s not necessarily the Government that is driving changes.
“It is corporations, consumers; it’s a global issue that’s coming at us like a steam train.”
At the end of the day, what matters is how the sector adopts and responds to changes, he adds.
McBride says while he understands there’s angst around, he doesn’t believe the push for emissions legislation is unique to NZ.
“From an emissions perspective, I don’t think it’s out of whack with where the global trend is.
“I think you can say we are laggards in that regard.”
McBride says the water quality issue is different, driven by philosophy and going beyond consumer expectations in some regards.
“I think the emissions one is a different story. From an emissions perspective, our objective is to turn the perceived threat into opportunity.
“It is how we adopt and how we change; doing nothing is not an option.”
Meanwhile, Fonterra has again lifted its 2021/22 forecast Farmgate Milk Price range to $9.30 - $9.90 per kgMS, up from $8.90 - $9.50 per kgMS.
This now sees the midpoint of the range, which farmers are paid increase by 40 cents to $9.60 per kgMS.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the lift in the forecast reflects the increase in global dairy prices since the co-op’s last milk price update in January and good ongoing global demand for dairy.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
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