Battle for milk
OPINION: Fonterra may be on the verge of selling its consumer business in New Zealand, but the co-operative is not keen on giving any ground to its competitors in the country.
EU dairy exports rose 6% in May (22,000MT) vs the same month in the previous year.
Fonterra says increases were seen in all major dairy categories, excluding SMP which fell 27%.
The EU’s two largest export categories, fluid and fresh dairy and cheese, both rose 17%. Exports are up 12% (551,000MT) for the 12 months to May vs the same period last year. Export increases are seen in fluid and fresh dairy (+27%), cheese (+12%) and whey powder (+11%).
US dairy exports in June rose 2% (4000MT) vs the same month in the previous year. A fall in the major export categories of SMP, lactose and cheese were offset by rises in whey powder, WMP and WPC/WPI, up a combined 16,000 MT.
Asia (excluding China) dairy import volumes rose 7% (25,000MT) in May vs the same month the previous year. Significant rises in fluid and fresh dairy and whey powder (+26%) and WMP (+20%) were partially offset by falls in SMP, cheese and lactose. Imports for the 12 months to May are up 2% (91,000MT) vs the same period in the previous year.
China dairy imports rose 9% (16,000MT) in July vs the same month last year. Big rises in fluid and fresh dairy and cheese, both up 37%, were partially offset by falls in SMP, whey powder and lactose.
The largest contributions to China’s growth have been fluid and fresh dairy and infant formula.
The latest Global Dairy Trade auction results have delivered a boost to dairy farmers.
New Zealand potato growers are prioritising value creation from high yields to meet a complex mix of challenges and opportunities, says Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt.
A Hawke's Bay apple orchardist supports the Government's objective of doubling exports but says this won't happen in the horticulture sector unless there's a change in the process for bringing new plant material into the country.
Canterbury arable farmers are down by tens of millions of dollars after a rollercoaster of wild changeable January weather saw harvests delayed and some crops destroyed by violent hailstorms.
Could a breakthrough in fermentation create a new multi-million-dollar export market for shiitake mushroom extracts into China?
Meadow Fresh has created the world's first fantasy sports league powered by real cows.