Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer boosts milksolids by 50% with millennial mindset
A Mid-Canterbury dairy farmer is bringing a millennial mindset to his family farm and is reaping the rewards, with a 50% uplift in milksolids production since he took over.
In the September 2016 quarter, producer output prices rose 1%, and producer input prices rose 1.5%.
The prices received by dairy cattle farmers (up 28%) and paid by dairy product manufacturers (up 22%) were key influences to the increase
“Higher farm-gate milk prices contributed to the September 2016 quarter rises,’’ Statistics New Zealand business prices manager Sarah Williams says.
The forecasted farm-gate milk prices for milk solids rose to $5.25/kg in mid-September 2016, this compares to $4.25/kg in May 2016.
If farm-gate milk prices had remained constant during the September 2016 quarter, both producer output and input prices would have risen 0.3% in the quarter.
According to the latest Federated Farmers banking survey, farmers are more satisfied with their bank and less under pressure, however, the sector is well short of confidence levels seen last decade.
Farmer confidence has taken a slight dip according to the final Rabobank rural confidence survey for the year.
Former Agriculture Minister and Otaki farmer Nathan Guy has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy (SATE).
Alliance Group has commissioned a new heat pump system at its Mataura processing plant in Southland.
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
Meat processors are hopeful that the additional 15% tariff on lamb exports to the US will also come off.