Taupiri Farmer Chris Woolerton Tipped as New Federated Farmers Waikato President
Taupiri farmer Chris Woolerton is tipped to take over as Federated Farmers Waikato president from next week.
TATUA MEMBERS of Federated Farmers are welcoming an all time record payout by a New Zealand milk processor at $9 per kilogram of milk solids (kg/MS) for the 2013/14 season.
The in-season forecast for 2014/15 is standing at $6.50 kg/MS.
"Tatua's tremendous trifecta is the only way to describe it," says David Fish, a Federated Farmers member and Tatua shareholder.
"It's an all-time record payout for any dairy company. It comes off record milk volumes for our cooperative and this year marks our centennial to boot.
"Most amazingly, the co-op has retained $1.32 kg/MS that will see nearly $13 million invested back into our business after tax. A year as we continue to build a major new dryer, which is an investment worth about two-thirds of our co-op's book value.
"We're small in the context of the New Zealand dairy industry but we are damn good at what we do with a focus on specialised quality products.
"I am also very pleased to see Tatua's forecast payout this season at $6.50 kg/MS. I believe there'll be another review in November but given what's happening internationally, it is a very good number.
"No one foresaw the international surge in production or the level of stock being held by China, now compounded of course by displaced European milk due to Russian sanctions. It's all collided more or less at the same time.
"Despite that, our co-ops smart business strategy is navigating these currents very well.
"While prices are flattish on the GlobalDairyTrade, there's massive demand out there. It isn't like the 1970s and 1980s when there were butter mountains. Those days are gone as consumers increasingly turn away from heavily processed food towards more natural ones," Fish says.
Two long-standing New Zealand agricultural businesses are coming together to strengthen innovation, local manufacturing capability, and access to essential farm inputs for farmers across the country.
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The Government has announced changes to stock exclusion regulations which it claims will cut unnecessary costs and inflexible rules while maintaining environmental protections.
Technology and the use of artificial intelligence are increasingly part of life, both on the farm and off it.
Ashleigh Gordon and Leilani Lobb have been named as the two finalists for Dairy Women's Network's (DWN) 2026 Regional Leader of the Year Award.
Animal and Plant Health New Zealand (APHANZ) says the approval of a new fungicide seed treatment is a positive, however growers will be hoping the final approval is completed ahead of the spring season.

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