Fonterra’s exit from Australia ‘a major event’
Fonterra’s impending exit from the Australian dairy industry is a major event but the story doesn’t change too much for farmers.
Five recent graduates of Smedley Station (5000ha) at Tikokino, near Hastings, have won scholarships totalling $26,300 are this year starting diploma studies at Lincoln University.
Rabobank sponsors Smedley graduates in relevant diploma and degree courses.
“Rabobank is proud to provide bursaries to cadets graduating from the station to do further studies and build their agricultural careers,” says Rabobank East Coast regional manager George Murdoch.
The cadets who got the bursaries are Philip Cutbush, Watarawi Ngata, Dean Wardle, Ben Galloway and Jack Virtue.
Smedley Station is held in trust by Public Trust for the Crown, and is administered by Public Trust’s national farm centre managed by Rodd Hutton.
“Smedley Station is grateful for the support given by Rabobank and its generosity in funding further education for Smedley cadets,” Hutton says. “Cadets get real farming experience and every decision affects the welfare of the station. Cadet training is funded directly from Smedley revenue.”
Smedley is one of 30 farms administered by Public Trust. The farms range from 48ha. Five are in the South Island, the rest in the North Island, mostly in Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.
Farmers are being encouraged to take a closer look at the refrigerants running inside their on-farm systems, as international and domestic pressure continues to build on high global warming potential (GWP) 400-series refrigerants.
As expected, Fonterra has lifted its 2025-26 forecast farmgate milk price mid-point to $9.50/kgMS.
Bovonic says a return on investment study has found its automated mastitis detection technology, QuadSense, is delivering financial, labour, and animal-health benefits on New Zealand dairy farms worth an estimated $29,547 per season.
Pāmu has welcomed ten new apprentices into its 2026 intake, marking the second year of a scheme designed to equip the next generation of farmers with the skills, knowledge, and experience needed for a thriving career in agriculture.
One team with 43 head, including a contingent from Mid Canterbury, are reflecting on a stellar NZ DairyEvent.
Fonterra farmer shareholders have approved the mechanism for a $2/share capital return expected from the sale of its global consumer and associated businesses.