Wednesday, 21 March 2012 10:09

Editorial - Wider benefits to school milk

Written by 

By the time you read this Fonterra’s Milk for Schools initiative will have launched in Northland. Given the idea stemmed from concern about the perceived high price of milk in the shops, it’s ironic that the launch should come just after the cooperative has cut its payout forecast. Milk prices internationally are on the wane and our dollar is doing dairy, and sheep and beef returns come to that, no favours.

But that doesn’t make this initiative any less laudable. Despite a certain TV advertising campaign bragging “big is good”, in the eyes of most New Zealanders, big is good only when it suits them. Sadly most don’t realise, or perhaps just don’t want to admit, that Fonterra’s size is actually good for them too. It gives our dairy industry the muscle and resource it needs to compete on the world market which is, after all, where 95% of the milk ends up. That strength helps improve the milk price and dividend paid to shareholders, which flows through our economy. It also makes our farmers better able to compete with overseas buyers. Bet most of the general public haven’t thought of it like that.

Hopefully the school milk initiative will make people think twice before they have a dig at the dairy industry. Fonterra needs to be careful here though, because it mustn’t be seen to be trying to buy off the public, in an attempt to bury the dirty dairy bad press. Such press has to be taken on the chin when it’s justified, and soundly refuted when it’s not. There’s also the danger some will see the Milk for Schools programme as a sign Fonterra is making so much money it can afford to give milk away.

Meanwhile Federated Farmers held its Farm Day on Sunday, and the Get Ahead agricultural careers day taster programme kicks off next week in Te Awamutu. Both should help open the eyes of the nation’s youth to the opportunities agriculture holds, but only to those who attend. It’s likely in many cases they’ll already be on board with what’s available in farming and its ancillary industries. 

One way to reach others who have little to do with farming is through schools, which is where hopefully the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme will start to deliver. 

Meanwhile sector bodies need to be looking to educate the educators, getting teachers out to field days, awards evenings, dinners  – whatever it takes, but with activities designed with teachers in mind. 

It’s a profession that is traditionally somewhat left-wing, so it will be no easy task, but if agriculture wants to change the attitude of the next generation, this is a good place to start.

Featured

All eyes on NZ milk supply

All eyes are on milk production in New Zealand and its impact on global dairy prices in the coming months.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter