Milk Powder Prices Rally: $10/kgMS Milk Price in Sight
Milk powder prices are continuing their merry run, firming up a potential $10/kgMS farmgate price this season.
Federated Farmers says John Wilson is the right man to lead Fonterra.
"John may be stepping into big shoes but he is ably equipped to do so," says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Willy Leferink. Wilson was today appointed chairman elect and takes over from Henry van der Heyden in December.
"John is an immensely intelligent and capable farmer with that all-important institutional knowledge of where Fonterra has come from. Since he has been on the board, Fonterra has gone from generating $11.8 billion in revenue to around $20 billion today."
Being the chairman of Fonterra puts you in the spotlight locally and internationally, says Leferink.
"Federated Farmers strongly hopes John will put in place a clear succession pathway by creating a deputy chair. A lack of board succession is a strategic weakness given Fonterra is a team made up of farmers, staff, customers and suppliers.
"John will be in charge of taking the world's fourth largest dairy company forward in its second decade of life. This includes delivering to shareholders and unit holders, everything promised from Trading Among Farmers (TAF) and the strategy refresh.
"The immediate priority for John, during the transition phase, is to put to bed Fonterra's constitution in November so we can all move forward."
Leferink says Feds executives look forward to meeting Wilson soon.
Farmers have until the end of this week to help shape DairyNZ’s future focus.
Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.
The New Zealand dairy sector set a record in the 2025/26 season, producing more than two billion kilograms of milksolids for the first time.
Milk powder prices are continuing their merry run, firming up a potential $10/kgMS farmgate price this season.
Teachers are welcoming the outgoing Government’s U-turn allowing agriculture and horticultural science to remain a standalone Year 11 subject.
Outgoing ACT MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron says Saturday’s election result reflects voters deeply impacted by the cost of living.

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