OPINION: Kiwi farmers must embrace disruption

20 July 2016

New Zealand agriculture cannot afford to think it is immune from disruptive technologies.

OPINION: Pressure builds on farmgate milk price

12 July 2016

The run of lacklustre GlobalDairyTrade results coupled with the performance of the Kiwi has seen mainstream media pick up on the possible threat to the existing farmgate pay-out.

TRADE TALK: Sheep meat access far from assured

7 July 2016

Beef + Lamb boss Sam McIvor last week told farmers that they should not expect any erosion of New Zealand’s existing market access for sheep meat in Europe as a result of Brexit.

Opinion – Fonterra pricing a prudent move

26 May 2016

Wednesday’s opening milk price announcement from Fonterra appears a departure from recent practice with the $4.25 guidance seemingly an extrapolation of the existing spot pricing, without building in any upside for a possible recovery in commodity prices.

OPINION: Cause for optimism in GDT result

23 May 2016

An encouraging WMP and fat portfolio result from GDT event 164 gives reason for optimism, says Mike McIntyre.

Opinion: Evolving story of Murray Goulburn

5 May 2016

Murray Goulburn’s predicaments highlight the challenges of really adding value to products, says Ian Proudfoot.

Opinion: Plenty of appetite for global agri M&A

24 March 2016

A vision of the future is critical to restore confidence and retain control of our collective future, writes Ian Proudfoot.

Trade Talk: TPP a bridge too far for US dairy industry?

18 March 2016

The hypocrisy within the United States dairy industry when it comes to trade liberalisation revealed itself last week.

In a statement endorsing the Trans Pacific Partnership, the chief executive of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), Jim Mulhern, lamented that the 12-country deal had achieved “less than we wanted in terms of throwing open new markets in Japan and Canada”.

At $3.90 we will break even

14 March 2016

It has been assumed the only dairy farmers not projected to make losses are those carrying little or no debt, says dairy farmer Bryce Anderton. 

Opinion: Protecting inherent value in product origins

10 March 2016

New Zealand needs to do more to protect product value derived from our geography, Ian Proudfoot says.