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 Shareholders' Council chairman, Duncan Coull, says record breaking efforts of shareholders saw 65% of farms, representing 73% of milksolids, cast their votes.
"This is an outstanding result for our co-op," says Coull.
"Fonterra farmers value the principle of 100% ownership and control and it is great to see shareholders, as the owners of Fonterra, come out in numbers to decide the direction in which their co-op will travel.
"My view is that the health of our co-op is dependent on our shareholders and their willingness to participate in the decision making processes and based on the participation rates in this Election I would suggest that our co-op is in very good shape."
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.