Fonterra Settles Greenpeace Claim Over Anchor Butter Labelling
A day after selling its consumer businesses, Fonterra has settled a civil claim, filed by Greenpeace, out of court.
Waikato dairy processor Tatua has announced a final payout of $7.50/kgMS for 2011-12, easily beating Fonterra.
The co-op has also retained 54c/kgMS to strengthen its balance sheet. Fonterra last week announced a final payout of $6.40/kgMS, made up of a milk price of $6.08/kgMS and a dividend payout of 32c/share. Fonterra retained 10c/share from its shareholders.
Tatua chairman Steve Allen says the 2011-12 season has been another positive one for it and its 109 suppliers.
"Demand for our products has remained firm throughout the year and our product mix returns were favourable," he says.
Milk supply from Tatua Suppliers was 13.2 million kilograms of milksolids, an increase of 9.5% from the previous year. The company's gearing ratio (of debt divided by debt plus equity) increased in line with expectations to 34%.
However, the co-op says foreign exchange management continues to be a challenge with the New Zealand dollar remaining elevated throughout the year.
"Our foreign exchange hedging policies have mitigated the impact of this to a considerable extent," he says.
OPINION: After two long years of hardship, things are looking up for New Zealand red meat farmers.
A casualty of the storm that hit the Bay of Plenty recently was the cancelation of a field day at a leading Māori kiwifruit orchard at Te Puke.
Michael Wentworth has joined the team at Mission Estate Winery, filling the "big shoes" of former Chief Executive Peter Holley, who resigned in September last year, after almost 30 years running the storied Napier venue.
Some arable farmers are getting out of arable and converting to dairy in the faced of soaring fuel and fertiliser prices on top of a very poor growing season.
The New Zealand seed industry has reached a significant milestone with the completion and approval of the new seed certification system.
New Zealand's persimmon season will kick off early this year, with fruit set to hit shelves soon.