Why Fonterra accepted defeat in the dairy aisle
OPINION: Fonterra's sale of its consumer dairy business to Lactalis is a clear sign of the co-operative’s failure to compete in the branded consumer market.
On the eve of Fonterra revising its farmgate milk price, the overnight Global Dairy Trade auction (GDT) offered farmers some good news.
However, the 2.2% rise in GDT price index won’t be enough to prevent another downward revision of the farm gate milk price.
Fonterra is expected to revise the farm gate milk price, currently sitting at a range of $6.25/kgMS to $6.50/kgMS.
Whole milk powder price rose 2.5% to US$2,667/MT but still below the US$3000/MT threshold. The US$3000/MT is generally regarded as the break-even point for farmers, although adverse currency movements can hinder beneficial price movements.
Key results
AMF index up 3.9%, average price US$4,755/MT
Butter index up 2.7%, average price US$3,745/MT
BMP index up 16.9%, average price US$2,973/MT
Ched index down 2.2%, average price US$3,184/MT
LAC index up 0.5%, average price US$918/MT
RenCas index up 2.0%, average price US$5,167/MT
SMP index up 0.3%, average price US$1,970/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index up 2.5%, average price US$2,667/MT
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The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
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'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
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