What Would Synlait Be Worth to Fonterra or a2 Milk?
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
Fonterra’s lift in its payout to $6/kgMS puts a brighter note on the end of a tough week for farming.
Federated Farmers dairy chair Andrew Hoggard says this will be a huge boost to dairy farmers’ spirits after a difficult spring.
"The weather’s been kicking our guts over the last few months and that’s on top of what everyone knows has been a tough couple of years,” Hoggard says.
"This is going to boost everyone’s morale."
The announcement equates to about an extra 75 cents for the season.
"It’s good news. We are going to see dairy farmers feeling a lot more positive over the next couple of months, which is good news for the entire New Zealand economy," Hoggard says.
Ballance Agrinutrients chief executive Kelvin Wickham says despite a tough year, he is pleased the business has returned to profit.
When Northland farmer Mark Cameron entered parliament six years ago, the Beehive was a lonely place.
Speculation of a possible joint move by Fonterra and a2 Milk to buy Synlait raises a much bigger strategic question, says agribusiness expert Dr Nic Lees.
I think it's going to greatly weaken National at the election. That's the view of a former senior National MP on the recent attempted coup against Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Despite political shenanigans in Wellington, farmers are confident that Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will get over the line in this term of Parliament.
New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.