Fonterra, Sharesies join to make share trading easier
Fonterra is teaming up with wealth app provider Sharesies to make it easier for its farmer shareholders to trade co-op shares among themselves.
Fonterra's wide forecast milk price range for the new season is realistic, says BNZ senior economist Doug Steel.
The co-operative's $8/kgMS midpoint is the highest opening forecast milk price on record. The previous highest opening forecast was $7/kgMS on three separate occasions.
Last month, Fonterra announced its opening 2021-22 milk price forecast of $7.25 to $8.75. Synlait has come out with an $8 opening milk price.
Steel says the midpoint seems consistent with product prices falling from current levels but remaining elevated relative to long term averages through the season.
"This is a similar profile to what we have built into our 2021-22 milk price forecast of $7.80," he told Rural News.
"While the 20c difference to Fonterra's range mid-point is meaningful in absolute terms, we wouldn't split hairs at this stage of the season.
"There is a long way to go. Anything around these levels would be positive."
However, Steel points out that there are palpable risks on both sides - evidenced by Fonterra's wide $1.50 forecast range.
There is the possibility that global dairy prices may hold up better than expected as high international grain prices lift costs for NZ's northern hemisphere competitors.
He points out that US corn prices have more than doubled over the past 12 months. Such things make an aggressive global milk supply response to current higher dairy prices less likely.
"Indeed, the current milk-price-to-feed ratio in the US suggests milk production growth there is more likely to slow into year's end rather than lift," says Steel.
Other positives stem from the possibility that world growth proves even stronger than expected, as the vaccine rollout allows more reopening.
"On our calculations, if product prices and the NZ dollar remain around current levels for the entire season ahead it would see milk prices test the top end of Fonterra's price range."
But there are downside risks too and much hinges on Chinese demand.
According to Steel, strong Chinese demand is not assured.
"And there is a chance that as inflation picks up globally, central banks start thinking some of it will be persistent, such that they change their tune and start talk more about removing monetary stimulus.
"That could quickly take the edge off what has been a very strong run up in commodity prices."
Also, Covid hasn't gone away.
Steel says what matters most is what happens next - so all eyes back on coming Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions and the NZ dollar.
He says the small GDT price dip earlier this month is of little consequence for the season ahead.
Angus Barr and Tara Dwyer of The Wandle, Lone Star Farms in Strath Taieri have been named the Regional Supreme Winners at the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards in Dunedin.
OPINION: The distress that the politicians and bureaucrats are causing to the people of Wairoa and the wider Tairāwhiti is unforgivable.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
OPINION: The new government has clearly signalled big cuts across the public service.
OPINION: Your canine crusader is not surprised by the recent news that New Zealand plant-based ‘fake meat’ business is in…