2024/25 Dairy Statistics: NZ dairy farmers boost production with fewer cows
According to the New Zealand Dairy Statistics 2024/25 report, New Zealand dairy farmers are achieving more with fewer cows.
Former LIC boss Mark Dewdney is the new chief executive of PGG Wrightson (PGW).
Dewdney, who left LIC earlier this year, starts on July 1. He replaces George Gould, who recently stepped down as managing director.
PGW chairman, Sir John Anderson says Dewdney brings impressive qualifications for leading an agricultural business such as PGW.
"We are pleased to have him join the company. In addition to his record of success at LIC, he has spent years in leadership positions in New Zealand and Asia at global dairy giant Fonterra Group.
"His experience is hands-on as well, through his ownership of dairy farms in both New Zealand and Australia."
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.