Fonterra slashes forecast milk price, again
Fonterra has slashed another 50c off its milk price forecast as global milk flows shows no sign of easing.
OPINION: New Zealand, and in particular Fonterra, has come under scrutiny in Sri Lanka for taking home the lion's share of the country's spend on imported powdered milk.
Attemption to 'fix' things, successive Sri Lankan governments have tried to boost local milk production and raise tariffs to stem the US$370 million spent annualy on milk powders.
The law of unintended consequences prevailed and Sri Lanka now has a milk powder shortage. So Fonterra may have the last laugh. Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa is looking at reducing the taxes imposed on imported powdered milk to arrest the shortage currently prevailing in market. This could mean more Fonterra milk powder heading to Sri Lanka.
The island nation's milk production is still only around 40% of the total requirement meaning it has to import 60% of its requirements.
Additional tariffs introduced by the Chinese Government last month on beef imports should favour New Zealand farmers and exporters.
Primary sector leaders have praised the government and its officials for putting the Indian free trade deal together in just nine months.
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and New Zealand.
Dairy farmers are still in a good place despite volatile global milk prices.
Legal controls on the movement of fruits and vegetables are now in place in Auckland’s Mt Roskill suburb, says Biosecurity New Zealand Commissioner North Mike Inglis.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.