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It seems other dairy processors in New Zealand and elsewhere are doing fine while Fonterra struggles to keep its head above water.
With the co-op’s financial woes well documented everywhere, reports of record results from others mean one thing: Fonterra’s strategy has been wrong all these years.
Look at Arla Foods, a European co-op nearly the same size as Fonterra. It’s total revenues for the six months ending June rose nearly NZ$9 billion -- NZ$25 million higher than the same period last year, backed by a 4.6% rise in branded product sales and higher sales prices. Net profit share for 2019 is expected to be in the target range of 2.8-3.2% of revenue.
And at home, Synlait reported an increase in profit to $82.2m, plus a total average milk price of $6.58/kgMS off revenue that exceeded $1 billion for the first time.
In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.
A four year trial has reaffirmed that mixing plantain into dairy pastures can help reduce nitrogen losses to freshwater while maintaining milk production and profitability, say researchers.
Fonterra has opened its upgraded Chengdu Application Centre, bringing New Zealand dairy expertise closer to customers in one of China's fastest-growing regions.
Tatua chair Stephen Allen says he leaves the co-op with a deep sense of gratitude for the people who have contributed to its success.
Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst and his family raised a glass of milk last week to toast the start of a new addition to their farming operation at Makihihi, south of Timaru.
New Zealand's pest problem has reached crisis point, according to Federated Farmers' second National Pests Survey, which shows farmers are spending more money and effort on control — yet pest numbers keep climbing faster than they were two years ago.
Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.
"What's for dinner?" may sound like a simple question, but for many Kiwi parents, answering it has become a job in itself.
Fifty Eight years ago, on the 16th of August 1968, August Claas, the founder of the harvesting company and father of Helmut Claas, personally presented a Claas Senator combine harvester to Scottish farmer John Steven.
New Zealand consumers are paying more for beef mince than ever before, with the average retail price now sitting above $24 per kilogram, according to Rabobank.
State farmer Pamu has delivered its strongest operating result on record.
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