Tuesday, 23 November 2021 08:55

Doing nothing not an option

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride. Fonterra chairman Peter McBride.

Doing nothing to arrest the slide in milk supply is not an option, says Fonterra chairman Peter McBride.

He told farmer shareholders that the total New Zealand milk supply is likely to decline or be flat at best.

McBride says Fonterra's supply depends on the actions it takes with the capital structure, performance, productivity and sustainability.

"If we do nothing, we are likely to see around a 12-20% decline by 2030 based on the milk supply scenarios we have modelled.

"Protecting a strong New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative of scale is in all our interests."

He notes that being a strong co-op ensures it pays the highest sustainable milk price. Fonterra's milk price sets the benchmark for prices Kiwi dairy farmers are paid for their milk.

"Based on our current operations, our farmgate milk price could be 6-13 cents lower by 2030 if we make no changes to our capital structure."

More like this

A Year of Delivery for Fonterra

Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.

Featured

A Year of Delivery for Fonterra

Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.

Editorial: Common Sense Prevails

OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.

Miriam Lauridsen on Farm Health and Safety Culture

When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter