Better days coming - Open Country Dairy
Open Country Dairy suppliers have received a final payout of $7.37/ kgMS for milk sent to the factories in October and November last year.
The country’s second-largest dairy processor says milk supply has been strong across all regions.
Open Country Dairy says its four factories are now running flat out to process milk.
OCD chief executive Steve Koekemoer told suppliers that the new Horotiu factory is already processing near capacity and the Wanganui factory is breaking its production records this season with new farmers that have come aboard.
“Awarua and Waharoa (plants) are nearing peak and fortunately we have had very minimal downtime due to our stringent winter maintenance programmes, he said in OCD’s October newsletter Talk Milk.
“It is that busy time of the year where everyone at Open Country Dairy has their head down and is working as hard as they can to ensure we process every drop of your milk efficiently.”
Koekemoer says OCD’s organic programme is also nearing its first processing date in November after two years of transition on farm and a big upgrade of the factory to process the milk.
“It is an exciting venture for our organics team that is focused on making this a success for the business and our organic farmers in Southland. “We expect our first branded product to be on shelves in early 2019 and are enthusiastic to see this sector grow as we prepare for our launch.”
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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