Feb 27, 2018  - Synlait (NZX: SML; ASX: SM1) has conditionally purchased 28 hectares of land in Pokeno, North Waikato, to establish their second nutritional powder manufacturing site. Currently an undeveloped site in New Zealand’s North Island, Synlait expects to invest around $260 million in the coming years as we establish our infant base powder manufacturing capability at the site.

Feb 21, 2018  -  Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (Fonterra) and The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) have today entered into a comprehensive strategic relationship that links Fonterra’s global milk pool and supply chain, manufacturing capability and in-market sales and distribution capacity with a2MC’s brand strength and capabilities. As part of the partnership, Fonterra will now begin conversations with its farmers to source an A2 milk pool for a2MC products in New Zealand, which is intended to significantly expand over time to help meet the growing demand for a2MC products. A similar milk pool in Australia will also be developed. Announcing the…

Jan 29, 2018  -  Synlait Milk (NZX: SML; ASX: SM1) has reaffirmed its milk price forecast of $6.50 kgMS for the 2017 / 2018 season.  However the company has signalled that this forecast is dependent on commodity prices continuing to firm for the rest of the season.

Jan 25, 2018  -  Synlait (NZX: SML; ASX: SM1) will welcome Dr Suzan Horst to the Senior Leadership Team on 1 April as Director of Quality, Regulatory and Laboratory Services.  Managing Director and CEO John Penno says Dr Horst is a leading authority in the global dairy industry and has much to offer Synlait.

Jan 18, 2018  -  On January 16, Cedenco Foods New Zealand Ltd. started its annual sweetcorn harvest, and the company expects a bigger yield than last year. More than 40,000 tonnes of corn is to be picked over the next three months.

Jan 17, 2018  -  Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor travels to Europe today to speak at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, held during International Green Week in Berlin. The forum’s theme is “shaping the future of livestock – sustainably, responsibly, efficiently”. New Zealand’s leading role in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases was a large factor in the invitation to take part in the forum. “The global challenge is to produce more food with less emissions intensity – this requires research and innovation and is key to meeting the projected increase in worldwide food demand of…

Jan 4, 2018  -  Nineteen maintenance workers at Silver Fern Farms Takapau are very disappointed that instead of improving their offer after today’s strike action, the company has made the offer even worse. Before the workers took industrial action, the company had offered a 1.5% increase as back pay for the nine months prior, followed by 2% increase at the time of settlement.

Dec 20, 2017  -  Pure South lamb from leading food company Alliance Group is to feature at one of China’s major online sales events this week.  The lamb will be showcased in a three-day online sales promotion run through Tmall, a Chinese-language business-to-consumer online retail venture, operated by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Tmall is the largest business-to-consumer retail platform in Asia with almost 500 million users annually. Alliance Group has been selected as a strategic partner and New Zealand’s only lamb producer for the promotion, which will run from 20-22 December. The launch of the sales event will feature a…

Dec 14,  2017  -  Alliance Group is exceeding its target for achieving gains from its business strategy and forging ahead with plans to further lift the co-operative’s performance, farmer shareholders were told at the co-operative’s Annual Meeting in Te Anau today. Murray Taggart, chair of Alliance Group, said the co-operative’s ongoing programme of strategy projects captured $48.8 million in value this year.“The value captured from our strategy projects is a major factor driving our ability to offer competitive farm gate pricing and invest in the company.“Alliance’s improved profitability means we will be distributing $11.4 million in pool payments to our…

Dec 13, 2017  -  Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity, Food Safety and Rural Communities Damien O’Connor announced today that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will reorganise its functions to create a stronger focus on core responsibilities.  Mr O’Connor says government will set up four portfolio-based entities, Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety. “Our priority is to achieve greater clarity and unity of purpose for these areas. We are seeking enhanced visibility of government policy and regulatory activities and clearer lines of accountability and engagement for stakeholders. “We are now looking to the…

Dec 12, 2017  -  The growth in New Zealand’s primary industry exports is impressive and provides the sector a strong base to deal with the challenges ahead, says Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor.  The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report shows the sector’s exports will grow by 8.5 per cent in 2018, to $41.4 billion. “This would be the largest annual increase since 2014 when dairy prices rose to very high levels,” says Mr O’Connor. “Growth this year is spread across all sectors and these gains are expected to be built on a more sustainable foundation.” Mr O’Connor says…