DairyNZ lifts breakeven milk price forecast to $8.68 for 2025/26 season
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says an independent study shows Primary Growth Partnerships (PGP) can generate $6.4 billion by 2025.
He says when National became the government the primary sector said it needed more R&D. PGP has been a 50/50 initiative, but is now funded 40% by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and 60% by industry.
"We've got wonderful examples where PGP is starting to add value," Guy says. "For instance, the Steepland harvester – a machine that works on steepland slopes – we can now export that machinery and technology around the world."
He refers to huge excitement about transforming the dairy value chain – from farmgate to processing. Mozeralla cheese, which used to take six weeks to develop, can now be made in hours.
"There are many other examples across the supply chain where PGP is adding huge value."
The $31.39m 'Sheep – Horizon Three', in partnership with Spring Sheep dairy, is the 22nd PGP scheme.
Guy told about visiting the New Zealand primary sector bootcamp at Stanford University this year with Scottie Chapman, chief executive of Spring Sheep, and MPI director-general Martyn Dunne and others.
The Te Hono bootcamp brings together chief executives from the primary industries sector. The brainchild of NZ Merino chief executive John Brakenridge, it explores new ways of thinking and doing for the sector.
"That is an opportunity to look back at our little country that is leading the charge in R&D and creating value for our provenance story," Guy says.
"We feed about 40 million; we have opportunity to move more of our products out of commodities into value add, getting the consumer at the centre."
The Transforming the Dairy Value Chain PGP Guy referred to is the largest, the government paying $84.6m and industries $85.7m.
DairyNZ and Fonterra are leading the PGP programme aimed at creating new value-add products, increasing onfarm productivity, reducing environment impacts and improving agricultural education.
Other achievements include improving cream to meet restaurant and bakery customer needs in Asia, and a dairy-based milk powder ingredient clinically proven to enhance sleep.
Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are being encouraged to cast their votes in the Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) board directors' election.
A unique discovery by a Palmerston North science company, Biolumic, looks set to revolutionise the value and potential of ryegrass and the secret is the application of ultraviolet (UV) light.
A New Zealand company is redefining the global collagen game by turning New Zealand sheepskin into a world-class health product.
With further extreme weather on the way, ANZ Bank is encouraging farmers and business owners impacted by the recent extreme weather and flooding to seek support if they need it.
New Zealand must continue to educate Chinese consumers about the unique qualities of its red meat products and how they differ from competitors, says Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton.
There are opportunities outside the farmgate for young farmers to further develop their skills, says 2025 Primary Industries Emerging Leader Award winner Bridie Virbickas.
OPINION: Dust ups between rural media and PR types aren't unheard of but also aren't common, given part of the…
OPINION: The Hound hears from his canine pals in Southland that an individual's derogatory remarks on social media have left…