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 new Lichfield, South Waikato, dryer is the largest in the world, co-equal with the Darfield D2 dryer in the South Island, says the co-op’s chief operations officer, Robert Spurway.
It will allow the processing of an additional 4.4 million litres of milk each day, taking total daily processing capacity to 7.6m L.
Processing such large volumes is a resource-intensive business that needs careful handling, he says. “We focus on making sure impacts are minimised wherever possible.
“A new biological wastewater treatment plant ensures we can treat any waste [entering] potable water before it is irrigated to land near the site – the most environmentally sustainable solution.
“We’re making good use of rail to move product to port, eliminating up to 40 truck movements from the site every day, which free up local roads and reduce our carbon emissions.
“A by-product from the treatment plant is a high quality fertiliser used by local farmers.”
Larger scale dryers such as Lichfield are part of balancing Fonterra’s assets to give the best value for farmers.
“As we’ve seen in recent GDT auctions, premium milk powder is a valuable product for Fonterra in its own right. But people often underestimate the strategic importance of powder production to Fonterra’s overall asset mix.”
The new plant will help the co-op balance its processing, allowing it to switch between products quickly to meet demand changes in global markets, increase production when milk volumes dictate, and achieve the best product mix for returns.
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
OPINION: Talking about plant-based food: “Chicken-free chicken” start-up Sunfed has had its valuation slashed to zero by major investor Blackbird…
OPINION: Synlait's financial woes won’t be going away anytime soon.