Fonterra to offload iconic brands
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
Farmers are being told to expect tight times ahead as the projected milk price was revised to a new mid-point range of $7 following the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction earlier this month.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell said that the revised price range reflected ongoing reduced import demand for whole milk powder from China.
"When we announced our opening 2023/24 season forecast in May, we noted it reflected an expectation that China's import demand for whole-milk powder would lift over the medium-term."
However, that was not the case, with GDT whole milk powder prices dropping 12%, with China's share tracking below average.
Additionally, Rabobank's August commodity outlook tells that July saw most prices (cheese, butter, etc.) below 5-year averages, with higher on farm costs and negative weather events having even more impact.
Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins said that compared to the same period in 2022, the farmgate forecast had weakened 24%, with all input costs raised 13%, with the biggest needle mover being interest rates at +50%.
"Markets are weak and challenging now. It will be painful for those going through this period of adjustment."
Otaio dairy farmer Ewen 'Horrie' Holliver, who runs 1,000 dairy cattle across 325 hectares, says that increasing costs have meant that margins are tight.
"We've got a bit of fat in the system from last year, but if it's still low next year there'll be a bit of blood on the ground. Just with the way wages are at the moment, we'll just have to keep paying their wages and take it off somewhere else."
Everyone's a bit worried, even the people I talk to in town. They're thinking 'if farmers aren't spending there's not going to be any money coming in, is there?'"
Hurrell and Higgins both said that the low GDT reflected a current surplus of fresh milk into China, resulting in elevated local production of whole milk powder and thus less need to import whole milk powder.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has found itself in a stoush with NZPork over the controversial National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.