Battle for milk
OPINION: Fonterra may be on the verge of selling its consumer business in New Zealand, but the co-operative is not keen on giving any ground to its competitors in the country.
Twelve Indonesian farmers chosen as part of a Fonterra scholarship programme in Indonesia visited the cooperative's Te Rapa manufacturing site on Wednesday on the final leg of their 10-week training course in New Zealand.
The training course, run in conjunction with Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, has seen the farmers study animal handling, milking and nutrition during their time here, spending nine weeks in Masterton and one week at Massey University.
Fonterra vice-president of International Farming Ventures Peter Moore says the initiative was designed to educate the farmers so that they can improve farming practices at home and to allow Fonterra to build greater relationships across Indonesia.
"Our brands have been in Indonesia for over 30 years and it is an important export market for Fonterra. The programme has been a great initiative that has allowed us to strengthen our key relationships and build Fonterra's reputation in local communities which is essential for our success in the country," Moore says.
The farmers travel back to Indonesia on Saturday after spending the week with Fonterra visiting Te Rapa, the Fonterra Hamilton offices and the Tip Top factory in Auckland.
While the recent storms in the upper and eastern part of the North Island have hit a few kiwifruit growers, it is unlikely to have a major impact on the overall industry.
Keratin biomaterials company Keraplast and Wools of New Zealand have signed a new superpremium wool contract which is said to deliver a boost to wool growers.
While things are looking positive for the red meat sector in 2026, volatility in global trade remains a concern, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The quest to find innovative practical, scientific solutions to deal with water-related issues at a catchment level has been the theme of an important conference at Massey University last week.
One of the country's top Māori farms faces a long and costly rebuild to get the property back to where it was before recent storms ripped through it.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auction results have delivered a boost to dairy farmers.
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