Strong growth in farm salaries - report
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
The first Global Dairy Trade (GDT) of the new season has delivered a mixed bag of results.
The GDT price index rose slightly - 0.6% to an average price of US$3395/tonne.
However, whole milk powder (WMP) prices softened overnight, dropping almost 3% to US$3143/tonne.
Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins says any rise in GDT price index is welcome.
“We’ll take that: last year, the index price was 46% lower (US$2,329/tonne) for the first auction of the 2016/-7 milk production season.”
Commenting on the drop in WMP prices, Higgins says weaker prices for contracts across October and November 2017 suggest the market is anticipating strong New Zealand milk supply following robust opening price signals and highlighted by additional WMP volumes added to the GDT across these periods.
All other dairy products are in positive territory. Cheese gets a significant mention with a 14.5% climb in this latest event and SMP leapt up almost 8% (albeit from a low base). European SMP intervention product has trickled to a standstill: no SMP has been entered into intervention for the latest week.
Oceania dairy fats continue to cream it.
Higgins says average butter prices soared 3.3% to US$5,631/tonne – the highest average price for butter in GDT history – helped by a European shortage of product.
Key results
AMF index down 1.2%, average price US$6,569/MT
Butter index up 3.3%, average price US$5,631/MT
BMP index up 5.8%, average price US$2,092/MT
Ched index up 14.5%, average price US$4,285/MT
LAC index up 1.0%, average price US$971/MT
RenCas index up 4.8%, average price US$6,849/MT
SMP index up 7.9%, average price US$2,156/MT
WMP index down 2.9%, average price US$3,143/MT
The chair of the Dairy Environment Leaders, the president of the North Otago Federated Farmers, and a herd health veterinarian are among those nominated for the Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award this year.
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
Troubled milk processor Synlait’s co-founder John Penno has stepped down from the board.
Dairy Women's Network has announced the finalists for its Regional Leader of the Year award.
Farmers are being urged to make their veterinarians an integral part of their farm management team.
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.