It's The Margins That Matter
OPINION: It appears to be difficult for people who haven’t tried to run a business to understand the difference between assets and cash.
Both major fertiliser co-operatives have dropped their prices as farmers start planning for spring.
Ballance came out last week, reducing the price of urea by $100/tonne to $795/t. It’s granular urea product SustaiN is $100/t cheaper, now priced at $844/t. Superphosphate drops $50/t to settle at $424/t.
Ravensdown has followed by dropping urea’s price by $100/t to $799/t. Superphosphate drops by $45/t to $429/t while Ravensdown’s coated urea product, N-Protect is now $100 cheaper and priced at $848/t.
Ballance sales manager Jason Minkhorst told Rural News that it was great to see prices start tracking to these levels.
“Driver is reduced demand globally on back of high prices and increased supply: watchout is global demand may bounce back and supply is still a risk. “However, we wanted to give our farmers confidence for spring accordingly we made some bold moves to help with on farm costs.”
Ravensdown chief customer officer Gary Bowick told farmers that while international commodity prices remain relatively volatile and some prices appear to be firming, they understand the need to meet the market and offer competitive prices for our customers.
Converting a longstanding cropping farm to dairy was the only way to ensure the land stayed in the family long term, says new dairy farmer Rod May.
As the election heats up, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) has launched its election scorecard designed to help voters wanting to support policies that grow organic and New Zealand's organic sector.
A 'tsunami' of milk from key exporting countries is winding down and this may be good news for New Zealand dairy farmers.
Will the good times last? That's one of the key issues to come out of the latest Federated Farmers confidence survey.
Outgoing Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson says that it has been a privilege to represent the co-op's farmer shareholders.
Have a plan in place for your cows and staff.

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