No backing down
OPINION: Fonterra isn't backing down in its fight with Greenpeace over the labelling of its iconic Anchor Butter.
Dairy prices have fallen to their lowest level in almost three years.
Fonterra's Global Dairy Trade-trade weighted index, which covers a range of 30 products and contract periods on offer, dropped 6.4%, with an average selling price of US$2,618 per tonne.
It was the third consecutive fall in the index at the fortnightly auctions. So far this year there have been only two rises out of the 10 auctions.
Prices fell for most dairy products on offer, with the largest decline seen in anhydrous milk fat, which fell 11.9%. Skim and milk powder also posted hefty falls, while rennet casein was the only one of the main products to manage a lift.
SMP dropped 5.4% to US$2,573/tonne while WMP dropped 9% to US$2546/tonne.
The next GDT auction is on June 5.
Commodity prices and interest rates play a huge role in shaping farmer confidence, but these factors are beyond their control, says Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre.
DairyNZ is supporting a proposed new learning model for apprenticeships and traineeships that would see training, education, and pastoral care delivered together to provide the best chance of success.
Two agritech companies have joined forces to help eliminate manual entry and save farmer time.
The recent squabble between the Cook Islands and NZ over their deal with China has added a new element of tension in the relationship between China and NZ.
The world is now amid potentially one of the most disruptive periods in world trade for a very long time.
Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.
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