Editorial: Happy days
OPINION: The year has started positively for New Zealand dairy farmers and things are likely to get better.
Global dairy prices have slumped for the fourth straight time this year.
However, the drop was nowhere near the 5% to 10% predicted by futures market.
This morning's GDT event saw the auction price index down 2.8%.
Whole milk powder, Fonterra's flagship product on GDT, dropped 3.7% to US$1890/MT.
Skim milk powder was down 1.4% to US$1762/MT.
The continuing slide in dairy prices will put further pressure on Fonterra's current farm gate milk price of $4.15/kgMS.
Key Results from the latest GDT auction;
AMF index up 1.5%, average price US$3,527/MT
Butter index down 2.3%, average price US$2,834/MT
BMP index down 1.2%, average price US$1,496/MT
Ched index down 5.6%, average price US$2,535/MT
LAC index unchanged, average price US$574/MT
RenCas index down 11.5%, average price US$3,852/MT
SMP index down 1.4%, average price US$1,762/MT
WMP index down 3.7%, average price US$1,890/MT
One of New Zealand’s longest-running pasture growth monitoring projects will continue, even as its long-time champion steps away after more than five decades of involvement.
The Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsmen Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is advising consumers to prepare for delays as insurers respond to a high volume of claims following this week's severe weather.
Additional reductions to costs for forest owners in the Emissions Trading Scheme Registry (ETS) have been announced by the Government.
Animal welfare is of paramount importance to New Zealand's dairy industry, with consumers increasingly interested in how food is produced, not just the quality of the final product.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay is encouraging farmers and growers to stay up to date with weather warnings and seek support should they need it.
The closure of SH2 Waioweka Gorge could result in significant delays and additional costs for freight customers around the Upper North Island, says Transporting New Zealand.

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