Farmers must have right to choose on GE - Langford
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
A billion-dollar drop in Fonterra’s fortunes leaves the co-op vulnerable to increasing competition, says Federated Farmers Dairy president Chris Lewis.
Lewis says the $196 million net loss announced last week, compared to $745m profit in 2017, means Fonterra must retain more earnings in the coming years to shore up its balance sheet.
“Fonterra has had a lot of time to become match-fit like the All Blacks, but that hasn’t happened,” he told Rural News.
“There’s a lot of competition around for milk now; more competitors are setting up and they all have strong balance sheets. If Fonterra wants to remain the number-one choice for NZ farmers they need to pull their socks.”
Lewis notes that apart from the net loss – the first in the co-op’s 17-year history – debt has increased, with gearing ratio now at 48.4%.
He says farmer shareholders will be unhappy with the poor results.
“Shareholders don’t tolerate losses, especially when it relates to bad investments and being sued and losing court cases.” Lewis believes Fonterra must look at its investment strategy and execution, and with a new chairman and chief executive it can change strategy and execution, government relations and handling of competition.
Chief executive Miles Hurrell says that in addition to the previously reported $232m payment to Danone, and the $439m write-down of the co-op’s Beingmate investment, there were four main reasons for the poor earnings performance.
“First, forecasting is never easy but ours proved to be too optimistic.
“Second, butter prices didn’t come down as we anticipated, which impacted our sales volumes and margins.
“Third, the increase in the forecast farmgate milk price late in the season, while good for farmers, put pressure on our margins.
“And fourth, operating expenses were up in some parts of the business.”
Federated Farmers supports a review of the current genetic technology legislation but insists that a farmer’s right to either choose or reject it must be protected.
New Zealand’s top business leaders are urging the US Administration to review “unjustified and discriminatory tariffs” imposed on Kiwi exporters.
New tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump signal an uncertain future, but New Zealand farmers know how to adapt to changing conditions, says Auriga Martin, chief executive of Farm Focus.
A global trade war beckons, which is bad news for a small open economy like New Zealand, warns Mark Smith ASB senior economist.
Carterton's Awakare Farm has long stood as a place where family, tradition and innovation intersect.
Fonterra says the US continues to be an important market for New Zealand dairy and the co-op.
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