Fonterra Cuts 2026/27 Milk Price Forecast to $9.25
Fonterra has reduced its forecast 2026/27 Farmgate Milk Price.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says the final vote on governance and representation reflects shareholder sentiment.
He says that the recommendations were a significant improvement and it was time to move the cooperative forward.
“Cooperatives, by their nature, need consensus on the important decisions. That is as it should be and today we have agreed on the final recommendations after a very constructive eight months of discussions and refinements,” says Wilson.
“It is a clear signal from our shareholder base that it is time to push on so the co-op can focus on our business priorities.”
Fonterra shareholders voted 85.96% in favour of the new proposal by the board.
The main effect of the changes is that a new election process for farmer directors will come into force. Under this process, candidates are selected by an Independent Selection Panel, then approved by the Nominations Committee of the Board and by the Shareholders Council before they are put forward to shareholders for their vote and support.
There is also provision for candidates to stand outside this process and self-nominate, provided they are supported by 35 other shareholders. A first past the post majority voting system will mean all director candidates now need at least 50% farmer support.
Certainty and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities is a critical outcome in the series of government reforms that are taking place at present.
Fonterra has reduced its forecast 2026/27 Farmgate Milk Price.
New Zealand dairy farmers are set to be the first in the world to receive access to a new digital physical milk pricing tool that enables them to fix the price for their physical milk.
State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.
A five-year study has found that the cost of reducing emissions without technology may be significant and unsustainable for Northland dairy farmers.
DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

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