110,000 visitors!
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
Not everyone loves Fonterra, let’s accept that.
Some farmers are cheesed off with the co-op for its performance, consumers are unhappy with the high price of milk and motorists are fed up of milk tankers clogging our roads.
However, one Northland man has taken his dislike of the co-op to a new level. The man (52) appeared in Whangarei District Court charged with shooting at the co-op’s Kauri plant; he was remanded in custody for a mental health assessment.
He faces charges of unlawful possession of a restricted firearm (an SKS 7.62/39 calibre), reckless discharge of a firearm and importing a restricted weapon.
Fonterra says the man has no direct connection to the co-op.
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.
The 2026 Red Dairy Cow conference will be hosted by New Zealand in March.
While global dairy commodity prices continue to climb in most key exporting countries, the second half of the year is expected to bring increased downside risks.
In a surprise move, Federated Farmers meat and wool group has dumped its chair Toby Williams.
Former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy has received the Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand’s Primary Industries Award.
OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.