Farmer concerns are grounded in reality, not 'no-hope narratives'
OPINION: The 'Save Our Sheep' campaign is built on a foundation of structure, integrity, and evidence from the Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Council.
Westland Milk farmer shareholders will be watching their spending very closely after the co-op slashed 60c off its 2014-15 forecast payout.
The country's number two dairy processor has announced a revised payout of $5.40/kgMS to $5.80/kgMS.
"Given Fonterra's hold on its benchmark payout forecast, this isn't exactly the best news to go into spring with," says Renee Rooney, Federated Farmers West Coast dairy chairperson.
"The fact the world produced seven billion litres of milk for export in the first half of 2014 isn't a secret and hasn't happened overnight, so this further revision is disappointing.
"It is going to mean some serious belt-tightening on the West Coast. Federated Farmers' Andrew Hoggard was prescient yesterday when he said for farmers to budget in the mid-five dollar payout range.
"The priority for our guys now is to redo budgets and cashflow. It means talking to your farm advisors and the bank to keep them fully in the loop; I'd run a 'no surprises' policy."
Farmers needing help are asked to contact the West Coast team at Federated Farmers or the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254.
"Given this is one hell of a drop in less than a month I think we need to ask if Westland had its glass over half full," says Rooney.
"Like anyone we don't like bad news but its better to get that news early than be led down the garden path.
"We are definitely going to be asking questions."
HortNZ's CEO, Kate Scott says they are starting to see the substantial cumulative effects on their members of the two disastrous flood events in the Nelson Tasman region.
In an ever-changing world, things never stay completely the same. Tropical jungles can turn into concrete ones criss-crossed by motorways, or shining cities collapse into ghost towns.
Labour's agriculture spokesperson Jo Luxton says while New Zealand needs more housing, sacrificing our best farmland to get there is not the answer.
Profitability issues facing arable farmers are the same across the world, says New Zealand's special agricultural trade envoy Hamish Marr.
Over 85% of Fonterra farmer suppliers will be eligible for customer funding up to $1,500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity.
Tighter beef and lamb production globally have worked to the advantage of NZ, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
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