Sugar hit
OPINION: Winston Peters has described the decision to sell its brand to Lactalis and disperse the profit to its farmer shareholders as a 'short sighted sugar hit'.
Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard says this morning’s strong rise in global dairy prices is a morale booster for farmers.
Hoggard told Rural News online that things are looking more positive after the GDT price index rose 11.4% and the flagship whole milk powder prices rose a whopping 19.8% to US$3317/tonne.
WMP prices need to stay over US$3000/tonne for farmers to get a decent milk payout and make a profit, he says.
“Let’s hope the prices remain steady,” Hoggard says.
Hoggard also points out that money won’t start flowing to farmers straight away; it would take several months.
GDT key results
Price Index up 11.4%
AMF index up 2.6%, average price US$5,146/MT
Butter index up 4.0%, average price US$4,146/MT
BMP index down 5.4%, average price US$2,248/MT
Ched index up 0.9%, average price US$3,332/MT
LAC index down 4.0%, average price US$755/MT
RenCas index down 4.8%, average price US$6,025/MT
SMP index up 6.5%, average price US$2,329/MT
WMP index up 19.8%, average price US$3,317/MT
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
Next month, wool training will reach one of New Zealand's most remote communities, the Chatham Islands - bringing hands-on skills and industry connection to locals eager to step into the wool harvesting sector.
Farmers' health and wellbeing will take centre stage with a new hub at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.
Dannevirke farmer Dan Billing has been announced as the new national chair of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Farmer Council.

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