Fonterra FY26 Results: $9.69 Milk Price, $3.4bn Profit
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
Fonterra director Donna Smit is retiring after serving six years on the board.
The Bay of Plenty farmer was first elected to the board in 2016.
Smit will also step down from her role as a Fonterra appointed director of FSF Management Company Limited, manager of the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund.
Smit says she has been honoured to serve her fellow farmer shareholders for the past six years and thanked farmers for their support.
“I’m proud of the progress we have made as a board over the past six years and my contribution as part of that team.
“While there’s always more that can be done, I believe the co-op is in a relative position of strength compared to when I joined the board. “It’s the right time to support another farmer to come through and make a contribution to our great co-op.
“We have an incredible pool of diverse leaders within our farmer base, and I’d encourage them to consider putting themselves forward.”
Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride thanked Smit for her contribution through a period of significant change for the co-op.
“Donna has been a valued member of our board at a critical juncture for the co-op as we have overseen the reset of the co-op’s culture, long-term strategy, governance and risk settings, and our capital structure.”
Another sitting farmer director, Andy Macfarlane’s current three-year term also ends in November; he has decided to stand again.
Nominations for Fonterra’s director elections open on 5 August.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.
For Canterbury dairy farmers Sian Meijer and Rick Wobben, wearable technology has become one of their most valuable on-farm tools - helping manage 1850 cows across an expansive, high-performing dairy operation while improving efficiency, mating outcomes and day-to-day decision making.
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
The first major update to the Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare in more than a decade has been released, marking what DairyNZ describes as an important step in ensuring animal welfare standards continue to evolve alongside scientific evidence and on-farm realities.
Ravensdown shareholders have elected Jane Montgomery and Kate Acland to the Ravensdown Board for three-year terms, following a closely contested director election.