Fonterra Whareroa sets cheese record, wins top award
Fonterra Whareroa wrapped up a successful season with a record-breaking cheese production volume and several gongs at the co-op's annual Best Site Cup awards.
Fonterra is shedding another 227 jobs as part of an on-going business review.
In a statement today, the co-op said total job losses to date stands at 750; it had previously announced 523 job losses.
Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says the purpose of the review is to ensure that Fonterra remains well positioned to compete in a rapidly changing global dairy market.
One-off savings generated by changes the cooperative is making during the business review, such as improving working capital, have already enabled the cooperative to support our farmers during challenging market conditions.
The review is an on-going process that looks at the entire business to identify potential areas where the cooperative can find more efficiencies and improve future performance, he says.
"We have great people, but we have to make tough decisions to ensure Fonterra remains competitive in this environment. We will continue to fine-tune our organisation to ensure we best support the initiatives identified by our business review," says Spierings.
"Our business is looking to the future with the momentum, energy and solid plans needed to keep improving performance."
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.