Feds make case for rural bank lending probe
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.
A billion-dollar drop in Fonterra’s fortunes leaves the co-op vulnerable to increasing competition, says Federated Farmers Dairy president Chris Lewis.
Lewis says the $196 million net loss announced last week, compared to $745m profit in 2017, means Fonterra must retain more earnings in the coming years to shore up its balance sheet.
“Fonterra has had a lot of time to become match-fit like the All Blacks, but that hasn’t happened,” he told Rural News.
“There’s a lot of competition around for milk now; more competitors are setting up and they all have strong balance sheets. If Fonterra wants to remain the number-one choice for NZ farmers they need to pull their socks.”
Lewis notes that apart from the net loss – the first in the co-op’s 17-year history – debt has increased, with gearing ratio now at 48.4%.
He says farmer shareholders will be unhappy with the poor results.
“Shareholders don’t tolerate losses, especially when it relates to bad investments and being sued and losing court cases.” Lewis believes Fonterra must look at its investment strategy and execution, and with a new chairman and chief executive it can change strategy and execution, government relations and handling of competition.
Chief executive Miles Hurrell says that in addition to the previously reported $232m payment to Danone, and the $439m write-down of the co-op’s Beingmate investment, there were four main reasons for the poor earnings performance.
“First, forecasting is never easy but ours proved to be too optimistic.
“Second, butter prices didn’t come down as we anticipated, which impacted our sales volumes and margins.
“Third, the increase in the forecast farmgate milk price late in the season, while good for farmers, put pressure on our margins.
“And fourth, operating expenses were up in some parts of the business.”
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.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
OPINION: This old mutt well remembers the wailing, whining and gnashing of teeth by former West Coast MP and Labour…
OPINION: Your canine crusader gets a little fed up with the some in media, union hacks, opposition politicians and hard-core…