NZ Dairy Feature: Farmers Flush with Cash, but Risk Looms
New Zealand dairy farmers are riding high this year: a record $10/kgMS milk payout from Fonterra, coupled with a $3.2 billion capital return after the co-op sold its consumer brands (like Mainland) to Lactalis. But this windfall comes with a caution. The central concern? If farmers reinvest heavily into more production, they risk repeating history:…
NZ Dairy Accelerates Sustainability & Tech Shift
New Zealand’s dairy sector, responsible for over 20 billion litres of milk and NZD $18 billion in exports annually, continues to confront the environmental consequences of intensive farming. Following historic water pollution concerns—from the “dirty dairying” campaign leading to the 2003 Dairying and Clean Streams Accord—current violations and nutrient run-off remain under scrutiny, prompting enhanced regulation by regional…