PGG Wrightson Revenue Tops $1.1b as Profit Jumps 46%
After delivering a strong financial year, rural trader PGG Wrightson says the coming months will depend on customer confidence and weather.
Goat farmers supplying milk to the Dairy Goat Cooperative (DGC) were paid $18.50/kgMS last year.
Speaking at the annual meeting last month, chairman Campbell Storey reported a year of strong revenue.
This grew from $177 million in 2015-16 to $193m in 2016-17; sales grew in existing and developing export markets.
“Farmer payout remained positive at $18.50/kgMS,” he said.
During the financial year DGC gained accreditation to the international FSSC22000 food safety systems certification standard.
Farmer-shareholders voted to appoint Mark Dewdney the third independent director on the DGC board. He recently retired as chief executive of PGG Wrightson, having previously worked for Fonterra and LIC.
DGC was set up in 1984 to develop, manufacture and market overseas its own-brand goat milk nutritional powders for infants and children.
It sources goat milk from its shareholder suppliers in Northland, Waikato and Taranaki.
At its Hamilton base it owns and operates all its core manufacturing processes, enabling tightly controlled production of high quality milk formula. It has at least 200 staff there.
DGC products are sold in at least 20 countries.
Leading figures from the major political parties will be questioned on their primary sector policies at the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, on 30 September.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) says it welcomes the passage of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill, calling the bills a positive step for sheep and beef farmers.
A spate of southerly winds bringing cold temperatures has presented challenges for Taranaki dairy farmers.
Converting a longstanding cropping farm to dairy was the only way to ensure the land stayed in the family long term, says new dairy farmer Rod May.
As the election heats up, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand (OANZ) has launched its election scorecard designed to help voters wanting to support policies that grow organic and New Zealand's organic sector.

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