Keith Woodford

About

Keith Woodford is an independent consultant who holds honorary positions as Professor of Agri-Food Systems at Lincoln University and Senior Research Fellow at the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University. His archived writings are available at http://keithwoodford.wordpress.com

Member for

11 years

Latest articles

Learning from Tillamook dairy

Keith Woodford says there are lessons to learn from Oregon dairy farming

22nd May 17, 9:14am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says there are lessons to learn from Oregon dairy farming

Alternatives to dairy

Keith Woodford says that the challenges of finding alternatives to dairying are under-estimated by urban New Zealand

9th May 17, 9:48am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says that the challenges of finding alternatives to dairying are under-estimated by urban New Zealand

Fifty years of Canterbury farming revolution

Keith Woodford reflects on fifty years of farming revolution in Canterbury and expects to see ongoing change

26th Apr 17, 2:17pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford reflects on fifty years of farming revolution in Canterbury and expects to see ongoing change

Synlait transforms from bulk powders to infant formula

Keith Woodford says that Synlait is about to become the dominant New Zealand producer of infant formula

12th Apr 17, 8:31am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says that Synlait is about to become the dominant New Zealand producer of infant formula

Solid set of first-half results

Keith Woodford says Fonterra’s half-year results are solid but it is not all plain sailing ahead

27th Mar 17, 8:13pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says Fonterra’s half-year results are solid but it is not all plain sailing ahead

Dairy outlook cools down

Keith Woodford says the latest downturn in milk powder prices suggests considerable caution is appropriate for next season’s budgets

13th Mar 17, 10:42am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says the latest downturn in milk powder prices suggests considerable caution is appropriate for next season’s budgets

Synlait and A2 Milk strengthen their alliance

Keith Woodford, a long time watcher of the A2 milk category, sees the sense in the closer tie-up between a2Milk and Synlait

3rd Mar 17, 2:16pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford, a long time watcher of the A2 milk category, sees the sense in the closer tie-up between a2Milk and Synlait

Land use and vegetation on the Christchurch Port Hills

Keith Woodford sees the imminent debate about land use on the Christchurch Port Hills full of self-interested positions with forestry, farming, recreation and conservation all in competition

1st Mar 17, 2:03pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford sees the imminent debate about land use on the Christchurch Port Hills full of self-interested positions with forestry, farming, recreation and conservation all in competition

Fire and devastation on the Christchurch Port Hills

Keith Woodford chronicles the Christchurch fires, and raises questions about the official response, and how the Port Hills should be replanted

25th Feb 17, 10:16am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford chronicles the Christchurch fires, and raises questions about the official response, and how the Port Hills should be replanted

The search for new agri-food markets

Keith Woodford says that the search for new agri-food markets always leads back to China and the ASEAN nations, but there are also lots of opportunities elsewhere

15th Feb 17, 12:10pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says that the search for new agri-food markets always leads back to China and the ASEAN nations, but there are also lots of opportunities elsewhere

How do we get a rational debate about water?

Keith Woodford says truth is the first casualty in water debates

30th Jan 17, 12:55pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says truth is the first casualty in water debates

Developing wealth from water

Keith Woodford says messy water laws impede efficient use of our key resource. It is a resource that has the potential to make us "an extremely wealthy society"

16th Jan 17, 11:51am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says messy water laws impede efficient use of our key resource. It is a resource that has the potential to make us "an extremely wealthy society"

Bellamy’s organic infant formula derails in China

Keith Woodford says that Bellamys infant formula woes has lessons both for New Zealand 's organic dairy farmers and the broader New Zealand infant formula trade with China

4th Jan 17, 2:37pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says that Bellamys infant formula woes has lessons both for New Zealand 's organic dairy farmers and the broader New Zealand infant formula trade with China

Fonterra provides encouragement for non-seasonal milk

Keith Woodford says Fonterra’s new winter milk premiums recognise that 12-month production is needed for value-add

23rd Dec 16, 8:05am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says Fonterra’s new winter milk premiums recognise that 12-month production is needed for value-add

Dairy volatility has not gone away

Keith Woodford says that dairy volatility is still with us, and there is lots of uncertainty over the coming months

29th Nov 16, 4:03pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says that dairy volatility is still with us, and there is lots of uncertainty over the coming months

China’s infant formula markets continue to evolve

Keith Woodford notes China’s infant formula market imports continue to grow but further business failures are inevitable

16th Nov 16, 6:27pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford notes China’s infant formula market imports continue to grow but further business failures are inevitable

Trump’s rhetoric puts American dairy at risk

Keith Woodford says if action lines up with rhetoric American dairy will be hit by incoming president Trump’s policies & global dairy prices will rise

10th Nov 16, 10:56am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says if action lines up with rhetoric American dairy will be hit by incoming president Trump’s policies & global dairy prices will rise

Is forestry the answer?

Given New Zealand's Paris climate commitments, Keith Woodford sees no alternative to planting 80,000 ha of extra trees per year. And that won't happen without a change in Government policy

2nd Nov 16, 9:12am

by Keith Woodford

Given New Zealand's Paris climate commitments, Keith Woodford sees no alternative to planting 80,000 ha of extra trees per year. And that won't happen without a change in Government policy

All-grass farming at the Lincoln dairy farm

Keith Woodford spends a morning at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm hearing about stocking rates, nitrogen and ryegrass

19th Oct 16, 10:44am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford spends a morning at the Lincoln University Dairy Farm hearing about stocking rates, nitrogen and ryegrass

The rise of China’s agriculture

Keith Woodford says a deeper understanding about what is actually going on in Chinese agriculture is essential for NZ agri-business managers

5th Oct 16, 8:46am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford says a deeper understanding about what is actually going on in Chinese agriculture is essential for NZ agri-business managers

China Farms and Australia are still Fonterra ‘work-ons’

Keith Woodford sees volatility being a permanent part of Fonterra's future in most markets, but impovements in the things it can control should reduce the swings

29th Sep 16, 1:48pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford sees volatility being a permanent part of Fonterra's future in most markets, but impovements in the things it can control should reduce the swings

Changing agri-food perspectives

Keith Woodford discusses the challenges of moving from production to consumer-led in agriculture

20th Sep 16, 9:30am

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford discusses the challenges of moving from production to consumer-led in agriculture

Lessons from Australia’s dairy

Keith Woodford points to the outsized importance of governance failure in the crisis hitting Australia's largest dairy cooperative, compares it to our own rural industry governance issues

13th Sep 16, 2:35pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford points to the outsized importance of governance failure in the crisis hitting Australia's largest dairy cooperative, compares it to our own rural industry governance issues

Milk powder prices still look vulnerable despite mini-boom

Keith Woodford cautions the high levels of uncertainty around dairy prices. He is still working on a farmgate payout range of anywhere between $4 and $6

7th Sep 16, 1:02pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford cautions the high levels of uncertainty around dairy prices. He is still working on a farmgate payout range of anywhere between $4 and $6

The pros and cons of PKE

Keith Woodford assesses the case for using PKE as a dairy feed supplement, and the wider use of 'vegetable oil' in our food

18th Aug 16, 1:38pm

by Keith Woodford

Keith Woodford assesses the case for using PKE as a dairy feed supplement, and the wider use of 'vegetable oil' in our food