Lower North Island farmers “cautiously optimistic” heading into winter – DairyNZ
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
Dairy prices went down in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction.
While milk powder (WMP) price index dropped 2.1% to $US$2883/MT.
Westpac’s IQ financial briefing notes that since April, WMP prices have fallen 13%.
The GDT Price Index was down 3.6% compared to the last auction.
Key results
AMF index down 6.9%, average price US$5,321/MT
Butter index down 8.5%, average price US$4,392/MT
BMP not offered
Ched index down 4.7%, average price US$3,484/MT
LAC index not available, average price US$914/MT
RenCas index up 2.8%, average price US$5,138/MT
SMP index down 1.3%, average price US$1,951/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index down 2.1%, average price US$2,883/MT
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
Next month, wool training will reach one of New Zealand's most remote communities, the Chatham Islands - bringing hands-on skills and industry connection to locals eager to step into the wool harvesting sector.
Farmers' health and wellbeing will take centre stage with a new hub at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dannevirke farmer Dan Billing has been announced as the new national chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Farmer Council.

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