The proposal wasn’t greeted with universal acclaim. In fact, in some quarters it was met with derision and questions were asked why farmers aren’t rewarded with a premium for their milk if they don’t pollute or mistreat their livestock – in the same way Synlait and Miraka do.
Now Fonterra management has seen the light. From June next year the best farmers will receive a maximum top-up of 10 cents a kilogram of milksolids. The more a farmer achieves through the Co-operative Difference programme the higher the payment will be.
It will be a tiered system rewarding not only those who are the best but also those who are working towards that goal.
Gerard Hutching
Fonterra council report
A report into the Fonterra Shareholders’ Council will not be ready for the annual meeting in November. Of the 1400 farmers surveyed only 10% want to see the council disestablished though there is strong dissatisfaction with its performance.
Benefits of sea lettuce
Sea lettuce has a promising future as an additive to livestock and human diets following initial research in Bay of Plenty. It also has the ability to mop up excess nitrogen and phosphate coming off farms.
Lambing in a drought
Hawke’s Bay farmers have had to juggle their feed resources to cater for early lambing. It’s been a mixed bag with some managing to hold on to their ewes but others have been forced to quit them.
Water storage project
Far North iwi Te Rarawa is excavating land for an 8ha lake costing $4m, which will provide water for horticulture and as a back-up supply for Kaitaia.
Big dry part II?
There are ominous signs the dry weather that has farmers on the back foot in some North Island regions might repeat into next season. Weather Watch meteorologist Philip Duncan says a lot more rain needs to fall to make up for soil moisture deficits.