Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, has cut its forecast payout to farmers by 20 cents, blaming volatile global commodity prices and an over supply in international markets. The Auckland based company has reduced its forecast farmgate milk price to $4.50 per kilogram of milk solids from $4.70/kgMS, and retained its estimated dividend […]
The NZPork Annual Report 2014, released today, reflects on the importance of the New Zealand consumer to the future of its business. NZPork Chairman Ian Carter points out that it’s important to remember that our consumer is our neighbour and that we are touch with what consumers want and believe. “We need to provoke interest […]
The New Zealand Merino Company, which markets the nation’s wool to customers on behalf of suppliers, has inked an $8 million one year deal to supply 600 tonnes of New Zealand fine and medium micron wool to US sock and apparel manufacturer SmartWool. NZ Merino aims to boost sheep grower returns from wool through supply agreements with […]
Livestock Improvement Corp, a farmer cooperative that sells bull semen and manages a dairy genetics database, has entered a research and development partnership with Dutch agricultural company Lely Group. As part of the deal, the Hamilton based company has acquired Lely Sensortec, the Dutch company’s Hamilton based development division, whose five staff design farm sensor […]
Low dairy prices will benefit the New Zealand dairy industry in the long term, Lincoln University Agribusiness and Food Marketing Programme Director Nic Lees says. “The low prices are the best thing that can happen as it will limit the European expansion.” He says a cost war is going on between New Zealand and Europe […]
New Zealand dairy farming is being confronted by climate change and Hamilton company CRV Ambreed is ready. The herd improvement company has recently widened the focus of its tropical dairy genetics scheme, which has sparked the interest of a handful of Northland-based farmers. Once only common in parts of Central America, South America, Asia and […]
Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) will be on the road again this May updating its members on the latest changes in health and safety, transport and employment laws – as well as other topics – in a series of roadshows being held around the country during May. RCNZ chief executive Roger Parton says the roadshow […]
Dairy Women’s Network’s next round of free workshops will focus on making farmers’ smartphones useful business tools, but without the bells and whistles, says facilitator Marlene Williamson. Williamson, who is a DWN member and self-employed computing facilitator, said farmers needed to know the capabilities of their phones and the value that could be added to […]
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is encouraging farmers to check they are registered to vote in the sheep and beef levy referendum that will be held later this year. All sheep, beef and dairy farmers will be able to vote on continuing to invest in programmes run by B+LNZ, which are designed to support […]
Horticultural production has topped $7 billion for the first time, with good growth in nearly all the main industries, including wine, apples, potatoes, and onions. The latest edition of the industry publication Fresh Facts shows in the year to June 30 2014 the horticultural industry was calculated to reach $7.16 billion in production, up from $6.7 […]