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.
New Fonterra shareholders council chairman James Barron says farmers are facing a raft of challenges.
But this isn’t the first time farmers have been under the pump, he says.
“We always have been able to overcome these challenges: this time is no different,” he told Dairy News.
He says the challenges provide “a massive opportunity” for Fonterra farmer shareholders to work together and get through them.
Changes to the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) concern a lot of Fonterra farmers: most remain unhappy about having to supply milk to competitors at a subsidised price.
Farmers are also facing new regulations on freshwater and carbon emissions. Barron says consumer expectations and preferences are also changing, faster than ever before. And rural banking is also changing.
On Fonterra’s performance, he admits that its financial performance has been unsatisfactory.
But the co-op is doing many good things.
“Fonterra is providing me with a farm environment plan, it picks up milk every day and makes timely payment for it. It also supports me through the Farm Source model.
“And to top it all off, it maximises the price paid for my milk.”
On the council’s performance, Barron says all the recommendations of a governance and representation review in 2016 are in place.
The council has also changed the way it does things. For example, it now has communications designed for younger farmers and future shareholders.
And as shareholders have requested, the council now has more focus on its roles and functions outlined in Fonterra’s Constitution. Face-to-face engagements with shareholders have increased in the last 12 months and its annual conference is now open to more shareholders.
Barron says the council has also reviewed the way it collects and collates farmers’ views.
“So, we are continually looking to improve the way we do things. There’s no perfect state. As long as we all try to improve I think that’s the right space to be in.”
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
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.
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