A rollercoaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Amendments to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill have passed its third and final reading in Parliament.
Primary Industries Minister David Carter says the Bill is a significant step to continuing a competitive and innovative dairy industry.
"The Bill legislates for greater transparency of the way Fonterra currently sets its farm gate milk price through its milk price manual, though it does not directly intervene in Fonterra's milk price setting processes."
The Bill also includes changes that allow Fonterra to move to its shareholder approved Trading Among Farmers (TAF) system.
"There has been considerable debate amongst Fonterra's shareholder base around the merits of TAF. But after the shareholders voting in favour for TAF and the legislation passing today, it is time for Fonterra to move forward growing the opportunities that exist for the company both in New Zealand and overseas."
Under the legislation, farmers will retain the ability to freely enter into Fonterra or exit to competing dairy processors and be assured of receiving a fair value for their shares, Carter says.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
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