Tuesday, 08 October 2024 13:55

Getting farmers back on side

Written by  Staff Reporters
Synlait is offering a one-off payment of 20c/kgMS to retain South Island suppliers. Synlait is offering a one-off payment of 20c/kgMS to retain South Island suppliers.

Milk processor Synlait is offering a one-off payment of 20c/kgMS to retain South Island suppliers, many of whom issued cessation notices to the company this year.

The company hopes the extra payment will entice farmer suppliers to stay.

The extra payment comes with conditions: to be eligible farmer suppliers must not have a cessation notice in place on 31 May 2025, are supplying milk to Synlait in the 2025 / 2026 season and remain un-ceased until 31 August 2025.

The listed company, majority-owned by Bright Dairy of China from October 1, is fighting to keep suppliers on board. Under Synlait’s milk supply agreement, farmers must issue a two-year cessation notice before withdrawing their supply.

Therefore, farmer suppliers would have to issue another cessation notice before May 31 this year for supply to be withdrawn by the end of 2025-26 season. The one-off payment will be based on milksolids supplied in the 2024-25 season and will also be made available to new suppliers.

Synlait chief executive Grant Watson says the company began FY24 with too much production capacity, unsustainably high levels of debt, significantly higher interest rates, and sharply declining demand for infant formula at a macro level.

“Although those challenges are evident in the year’s result, we begin FY25 with new momentum and a stronger financial foundation.


Read More


“Our future success depends on a strong, stable and competitive farmer base. Providing farmer suppliers with compelling reasons to remove cessation notices is a top priority, ensuring we have the secure milk supply to underpin our business recovery.

“We have announced additional payments for our farmer suppliers to recognise how critical their milk supply is to Synlait’s future. We hope these combined actions will accelerate cease notice withdrawals.”

More like this

Synlait's back

OPINION: After years of financial turmoil, Canterbury milk processor Synlait is now back in business.

Wyeth to head Synlait

Former Westland Milk boss Richard Wyeth is taking over as chief executive of Canterbury milk processor Synlait from May 19.

Synlait sweetens milk supply deal

Canterbury milk processor Synlait is confident of retaining its farmer supplier base following a turnaround in its financial performance.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

New Holland combines crack 50 years

New Holland is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the introduction its Twin Rotor threshing and separation technology, which has evolved…

Iconic TPW Woolpress turns 50!

The company behind the iconic TPW Woolpress, which fundamentally changed the way wool is baled in Australia and New Zealand,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Double standards

OPINION: Imagine if the Hound had called the Minister of Finance the 'c-word' and accused her of "girl math".

Debt monster

OPINION: It's good news that Finance Minister Nicola Willis has slashed $1.1 billion from new spending, citing "a seismic global…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter