Survey shows most Fonterra farmers plan to use capital return for debt reduction
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Northland community leaders gathered at Manaia View School in Whangarei yesterday to celebrate the first day of the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme.
Leanne Otene, Principal of Manaia View, says the school wanted to recognise today as an important milestone for Northland children and the Northland community alike.
"Today is very exciting for all of us. When it comes to our kids, improving their nutrition is an absolute priority and it's wonderful to be able to offer students a serving of milk every school day," says Otene.
Manaia View is one of more than 100 Northland schools that dished out milk to around 10,000 children today – a move that Chris Farrelly, CEO of Manaia Health, sees as a game-changer for the wellbeing of New Zealand children.
"Milk is vital for development, providing essential energy, protein, fats, vitamins and minerals. Providing free milk to children in school will ensure that it becomes a fundamental part of our children's diets," says Farrelly.
"Fonterra's effort to ensure our kids are getting the milk nutrition they need is one that will significantly impact not only our children, but our whole community, in a positive way."
Fonterra announced the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme late last year and has since been working with Northland schools and communities to set up the pilot in a way that makes it as easy as possible for schools to participate.
The co-op will monitor the pilot for the first three terms, with the intention of rolling it out nationwide in 2013, says Fonterra CEO Theo Spierings.
"Our motivation is to get more Kiwis drinking more milk, and this starts with our kids.
"Milk is without a doubt, one of the most nutritious foods there is and as leaders in dairy nutrition, we want to do what we can to make it more accessible to New Zealanders," says Spierings.
Fonterra is still accepting registrations for the pilot. To find out more or register a school please visit www.fonterramilkforschools.com.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…
One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…