McIntyre thanks farmers as he prepares to bow out of Feds
On the eve of his departure from Federated Farmers board, Richard McIntyre is thanking farmers for their support and words of encouragement during his stint as a farmer advocate.
Dairy prices have fallen to their lowest level in almost three years.
Fonterra's Global Dairy Trade-trade weighted index, which covers a range of 30 products and contract periods on offer, dropped 6.4%, with an average selling price of US$2,618 per tonne.
It was the third consecutive fall in the index at the fortnightly auctions. So far this year there have been only two rises out of the 10 auctions.
Prices fell for most dairy products on offer, with the largest decline seen in anhydrous milk fat, which fell 11.9%. Skim and milk powder also posted hefty falls, while rennet casein was the only one of the main products to manage a lift.
SMP dropped 5.4% to US$2,573/tonne while WMP dropped 9% to US$2546/tonne.
The next GDT auction is on June 5.
The country's second largest milk processor hopes to produce its first commercial butter within two months.
There's no doubt that vehicle manufacturers at Fieldays saw a steady stream of rural folk treading the boards.
Fonterra's co-op model and what it does for New Zealand has lured one of its bright stars back on board.
Farmer lobby Federated Farmers is reporting a growth in membership, for the first time in decades.
New Zealand's Ruminant Biotech says that while it has big goals, the scale of the problem it seeks to solve requires it.
The upheaval in the Middle East may have eased the fall in global dairy prices last week.