Michelle Pye elected to Fonterra board
Canterbury farmer Michelle Pye has been elected to Fonterra’s board for a three-year term.
Taupo-based dairy company Miraka has lifted its forecast milk price for the season to $9.17/kgMS.
Miraka chief executive Karl Gradon says he expects the company's milk suppliers will be pleased with the strong 2024-25 season price update.
"Our farmers have experienced a difficult and challenging period, with lower commodities over time and higher operating expenses and interest rates.
"We're supporting them with a strong 2024/25 season forecast milk price."
Miraka's milk price is 17c above Fonterra's mid-point for the season.
Miraka's 2023-24 final milk payout is $8/kgMS. Fonterra's final Farmgate Milk Price for the 2023/24 season finished at $7.8/kgMS. This, combined with the 55 cents per share dividend, provides a total cash payout to a fully shared-up farmer of $8.38/kgMS. The dividend includes a special 15c return to farmers.
Fonterra Co-operative Council chair John Stevenson says the special dividend of 15 cents per share, on top of interim and final dividends totalling 40 cents per share, demonstrates the strength of Fonterra's balance sheet.
"In addition, the special dividend is a welcome acknowledgement of the tough times faced by shareholders in the relatively recent past when the returns from ownership were not adequate."
Thirty years ago, as a young sharemilker, former Waikato farmer Snow Chubb realised he was bucking a trend when he started planting trees to provide shade for his cows, but he knew the animals would appreciate what he was doing.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.

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