increase font size
Fonterra’s milk collection in the South Island for March was 7% behind the same month in 2014.
Fonterra says milk collection in the South Island in March was 7% below last season.
The co-op collected 60 million kgMS in the South Island; soil moisture remains low across most South Island dairying regions.
“Scattered rain in March was not enough to ease the irrigation restrictions many farmers are still facing and extremely dry conditions continue to affect pasture growth rates,” the co-op says in its monthly global dairy update.
North Island collection in March reached 80 million kgMS, in line with March last season.
Fonterra says rain in March, consistent with long-term averages, supported for milk volumes. However, dry conditions remain across most dairying regions and follow-up rain is needed to hold milk production in line with last season over the coming months.
In Australia, milk collection for the nine months to March 31 reached 100 million kgMS, 6% higher than the same period last season.
Milk collection in March reached 9mkgMS, 9% ahead of March last season. Most dairying regions, Tasmania in particular, received some rain, favouring pasture growth. Western Victoria produced much more than last season and Tasmania is tracking in line with last season.
Meanwhile milk production worldwide has been subdued, Fonterra says.
EU production in January was in line with the same month last year, the first month since June 2013 with no growth in milk production. Ireland had the largest decrease, down 14%. Only the UK and Poland grew production in January.
US production in January increased 2% over January 2014. This increase was below market expectations and affected by reduced production in the major dairy states California, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Argentina and Uruguay production data for January is not complete. Production in December decreased 1% over the same month last year.
Australian production in January increased 1% over January 2014. Production decreased in Victoria but increased 7% in Tasmania.
Meanwhile, New Zealand exports in January increased 3% over January 2014.
This was driven by SMP and AMF increasing 25% and cheese increasing 21%. But WMP decreased 10% to 137,000 tonnes.
Australian exports in January decreased 3% over January 2014. Increases in most major dairy categories including SMP, fluid and fresh dairy, cheese and whey powder were offset by a large decrease in WMP, down 62%.
EU exports in December increased 8%; US exports in January decreased 22% over January 2014.
OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.
Kiwis love their butter, and that's great because New Zealand produces some of the best butter in the world. But when the price of butter goes up, it's tough for some, particularly when many other grocery staples have also gone up and the heat goes on co-operative Fonterra, the country's main butter maker. Here the co-op explains why butter prices are so high right now.
An A$2 billion bid for Fonterra's Oceania business would be great news, according to Forsyth Barr senior analyst, equities, Matt Montgomerie.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
The Innovation Awards at June's National Fieldays showcased several new ideas, alongside previous entries that had reached commercial reality.
To assist the flower industry in reducing waste and drive up demand, Wonky Box has partnered with Burwood to create Wonky Flowers.
Three new directors are joining Horticulture New Zealand’s board from this month.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says proposed changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will leave the door wide open for continued conversions of productive sheep and beef farms into carbon forestry.
Federated Farmers says a report to Parliament on the subject of a ban on carbon forestry does not go far enough to prevent continued farm to forestry conversions.
New Zealand Apples and Pears annual conference was a success with delegates and exhibitors alike making the most of three days of exhibitions, tours, insightful discussions, valuable networking and thoughtful presentations.
OPINION: Your old mate reckons townie Brooke van Velden, the Minister of Workplace (or is it Woke Place) Relations is…
OPINION: There's an infamous term coined by a US general during the Vietnam war, specifically in reference to the battle…
