increase font size
Andrew Hoggard
Despite a smaller rise in the global dairy price index last week, farmers will be happy, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard. He says farmers were hoping for another big rise, similar to the previous two auctions but this did not eventuate.
“At least the price index is rising,” he told Dairy News.
The most recent auction saw prices rise while volumes dropped; Fonterra’s GDT price index climbed 1.1%, with an average selling price of US$3374/tonne.
A total of 22,094 tonnes was sold at the latest auction, falling 3.8% from the previous one.
However, the price rise for Fonterra’s flagship product, whole milk powder (WMP), was down 1% to US$3241/tonne.
Fonterra last month held the 2014-15 milk payout at $4.70/kgMS. And the co-op says WMP prices must reach US$3500/t by April to sustain the $4.70/kgMS payout forecast.
After tumbling late last year, milk powder prices are now rising; GDT prices for whole milk powder have risen 45% and skim milk powder prices 13%.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says the increase was not sufficient to raise the forecast milk price now.
On the coming season, Wilson says it’s difficult to predict prices so far ahead. “There is so much volatility, we are finding to difficult to forecast on a week-to-week basis, let alone 18 months.”
Federated Farmers is celebrating following the Government's announcement that young farmers will be able to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home or farm.
Associate Agriculture Minister and Manawatu dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard says the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated with India is not a bad deal and his party, Act, will support it when it goes before Parliament.
OPINION: The euphoria over the Government’s two new bills to replace the broken Resource Management Act is over.
Canterbury arable farmers are down by tens of millions of dollars after a rollercoaster of wild changeable January weather saw harvests delayed and some crops destroyed by violent hailstorms.
OPINION: 2025 was a big year for rural New Zealand in terms of policy.
Donald Trump's latest tariff tantrum has again thrown the world of trade into a new round of turmoil and uncertainty, and NZ is caught up in it.
The third edition of the NZ Dairy Expo, held in mid-February in Matamata, has shown that the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid) was getting a positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike.
Twenty years ago, South African dairy farm manager Louis Vandenberg was sent to a farm in Waikato to provide training on Afimilk technology.
Strong farmgate milk price is helping boost investment on farms, says PGG Wrightson chief executive Stephen Guerin.
Fonterra's 460 milk suppliers in Australia, who will switch to Lactalis end of this month, are unfazed with the impending change.
The 5+ A Day Charitable Trust has launched a collection of affordable recipes designed to turn everyday vegetables into seasonal stars.
