Fonterra shaves 50c off forecast milk price
Fonterra has dropped its forecast milk price mid-point by 50c as a surge in global milk production is putting downward pressure on commodity prices.
Fonterra's plan to use probiotics to reduce cow methane emissions is moving to on-farm trials.
The Kobucha project is shifting from the Fonterra Research & Development Centre (FDRC) to the farm.
Kowbucha are potential methane-busting probiotics from the co-op's dairy culture collection stored at FDRC.
Fonterra head of strategy and innovation, Mark Piper, says the project is about making the most of the co-op's people skills and dairy expertise to unlock the potential of these cultures to help ensure New Zealand stays as a leader in sustainable food production.
"The cultures have been selected over decades for their properties in producing different varieties of cheese, yoghurts, sour creams, and for use as health promoting probiotics," Piper exclaims.
"Following analysis of thousands of strains from the collection, specific strains have been identified as those that could potentially reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) production naturally from inside the cow."
Despite a late and unfavourable start, this year’s strawberry crop is expected to be bountiful for producer and consumer alike.
Nearly three years on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke's Bay apple orchardist Paul Paynter says they are still doing remedial work around their orchards and facing financial challenges.
An unusual participant at the recent Royal A&P Show in Christchurch was a stand promoting a variety of European products, during an event that normally champions the homegrown.
Bradley Wadsworth lives on the family farm – Omega Station – in the Wairarapa about 30 minutes’ drive east from Masterton.
With global milk prices falling, the question is when will key exporting countries reach a tipping point where production starts to dip.
Rural contractors want the Government to include a national standard for air plans as part of its Resource Management Act reforms.

OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer…
OPINION: The Hound reckons a big problem with focusing too much on the wrong goal - reducing livestock emissions at…