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 fallen for the fourth straight auction.
The Global Dairy Trade price index dipped 3.4% over the previous auction.
Whole milk powder fell 2.7%, SMP fell 6.5%, and butter fell 5.9%.
Westpac head of NZ Strategy Imre Speizer says the results disappointed earlier futures market predictions of a small rise on WMP.
Full results
AMF index unchanged, average price US$6,887/MT
Butter index down 5.9%, average price US$5,144/MT
BMP not offered
Ched index down 4.2%, average price US$3,831/MT
LAC index not available, average price not available
RenCas index down 12.6%, average price US$4,644/MT
SMP index down 6.5%, average price US$1,701/MT
WMP index down 2.7%, average price US$2,778/MT
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
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.