Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
Dairy prices have tumbled in the latest Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction.
The GDT price index dropped 5% compared to the previous auction.
Surprisingly, whole milk powder prices dropped a whopping 7.3% to US$2905/MT.
According to Westpac head of NZ Strategy Imre Speizer, last night’s GDT result was “a decent surprise relative to futures market predictions of a 1% fall”.
“One reason could be trade war fears, with local production increases a weaker secondary explanation,” he says.
Key results
AMF index down 1.7%, average price US$5,937/MT
Butter index down 4.0%, average price US$5,390/MT
BMP index up 6.4%, average price US$2,480/MT
Ched index down 4.3%, average price US$3,713/MT
LAC index not available, average price not available
RenCas index up 3.6%, average price US$5,089/MT
SMP index down 4.6%, average price US$1,913/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index down 7.3%, average price US$2,905/MT
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An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
Efficiency is the big one because it tracks back into what is done on farm.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.
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