Fonterra Lifts Farmgate Milk Price
Good news for Fonterra farmers. The co-op has raised this season’s farmgate milk price mid-point by 25c to $9.75/kgMS.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says as a farmer he is angry and disappointed with today's arbitration decision over the false botulism scare in 2013.
Speaking at a media conference with chief executive Theo Spierings, Wilson said the decision did not fully recognise the terms of supply agreement between Fonterra and Danone.
However, Wilson says he accepts the decision to award Danone $183 million in damages.
“We will now turn our attention to delivering the best possible returns for our farmers despite this outcome,” he says.
He added that Fonterra’s management is also committed to this.
Wilson and the management team briefed the Shareholders Council on the arbitration decision before the media conference.
He says there is also frustration among shareholders.
Danone sought damages for recalling products; the precautionary recall was a result of a false test from a third party.
Massey University vice chancellor Pierre Venter says his institute is moving from a period of austerity into a growth phase, based on their new strategy.
With the red meat sector going through a boom time with high prices, the time is right for the industry to step up its investment into developing new food products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Nick Beeby says there’s now much closer cooperation between meat processing companies than there was many years ago.
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
Farmer lobby Groundswell believes that farmers are worried about the implications of a potential centre-left government.
With less than a week to go before voters choose the next government, Federated Farmers has a simple message to its members - get out and vote.

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