Fonterra Names Four Independently Assessed Director Candidates
Fonterra Co-operative Group has confirmed the independently assessed candidates standing for election to its board in 2026.
FEDERATED FARMERS Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard has described the lowest auction in five years as "a blow to the industry" as hopes of a lift or at least continued plateau in prices were dashed.
"We will wait with anticipation for Fonterra's board meeting in December when they will review the payout, but there'll be another GDT before then, so who knows."
Hoggard noted Prime Minister John Key's belief, voiced to Feds' National Council Wednesday morning despite the GDT news, that "GDT has bottomed out and we are likely to see things improve going forward."
But only a day later Finance Minister Bill English said falling dairy prices and low inflation would make returning to economic surplus challenging.
"It was clear from the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Brisbane [Nov 15-16] that growth remains elusive in Europe and more uncertainty in China is being reflected in some sharply lower commodity prices," he told an ASB business breakfast.
"Falls in global commodity prices such as oil, forestry and dairy, together with weak international consumer price inflation, are posing challenges for governments and central banks around the world... New Zealand is not immune to these global trends."
GDT price index fell 3.1% overall with powders plunging 5-6%.
Feds' West Coast provincial president, Katie Milne said Westland's payout forecast of $5.40-5.80/kgMS would be hard to hold with Westland selling more milk powder than anything else.
"Westland suppliers should be prepared that there may be a drop in the payout after the board meeting at the end of the month. However there's nothing wrong with living in hope, and if it does not drop we will all breathe a little easier."
New Plymouth-based Manuka honey exporter Egmont Honey has completed its acquisition of Taihape beekeeping business Tweeddale's Honey, with settlement finalised on Friday, 18 September.
Westpac NZ is calling on farmers and growers to start preparing now for the possibility of a dry summer, as likely El Niño conditions raise the risk of drought across parts of the country.
Fonterra Co-operative Group has confirmed the independently assessed candidates standing for election to its board in 2026.
Fonterra has revised its Farmgate Milk Price forecast for the 2026/27 season, lifting the midpoint and narrowing the range on the back of improving global dairy commodity prices.
New Zealand's citrus growers were challenged to build their future on the value embedded in their fruit rather than the volume they produce, at Citrus New Zealand's annual gathering in Gisborne on 17 September.
Leading John Deere technicians and apprentices from New Zealand and Australians were recognised at the recent sixth annual JD Technician of the Year Awards, held in Brisbane.