Fonterra

Fonterra's release yesterday of a final price on its listed shareholder units could provide debt-laden or drought-affected dairy farmers with a cash windfall.

A supply offer enabling Fonterra farmer shareholders to sell the economic rights of some of their shares will open today. They will have the opportunity to offer to sell the economic rights of up to 25% of their minimum required shares (wet shares) to the Fonterra Shareholders Fund.

Fonterra is renewing contracts for some of its organic dairy farmers, less than two years after slashing the number of supplier farmers throughout the North Island, but the news is not so good for Northland suppliers.

Fonterra's increased forecast milk price will not be enough to make up for the effects of drought, particularly in the North Island, Federated Farmers says.

Fonterra has warned its strong first-half earnings are unlikely to be repeated in the second half of the year.

A supply offer enabling Fonterra farmer shareholders to sell the economic rights of some of their shares will open in May.

The dairy sector may weather the drought better than beef and sheep farmers but Fonterra's recently launched shareholder fund units could take a hit in value.

Groups already working to improve water quality in the Waituna Lagoon near Invercargill have welcomed funding from dairy giant Fonterra.

Fonterra is investing $20 million in a conservation project to restore waterways in Northland, Waikato, Canterbury and Southland.

Prices surged in the GlobalDairyTrade auction this week, increasing 10.4% on a trade-weighted basis, as New Zealand's supply tightens rapidly, due to dry conditions.