New Zealand’s Dairy Dispute with Canada Intensifies
TL;DR: Trade Minister Todd McClay is set to confront Canada over its dairy policies, which are impacting New Zealand’s dairy exports. At an upcoming meeting in Abu Dhabi with global trade ministers, McClay plans to discuss Canada’s non-compliance with the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and its subsidised dairy exports to the US, which […]
Surge in US Imported Manufacturing Beef Prices: Implications for Global Markets
TL;DR: The United States has seen a notable increase in imported manufacturing beef prices, a trend some market analysts interpret as an early indicator of supply stress. This stress stems from the US beef herd dwindling to its lowest levels in four decades, primarily due to prolonged drought conditions. In Australian currency, the price for […]
El Niño’s Arrival: A Test of Patience for New Zealand
TL;DR: Phil Duncan from WeatherWatch reminds us of the Guns N’ Roses lyric, “All we need is just a little patience,” when reflecting on last year’s scepticism towards El Niño. In spring, before any signs appeared, many doubted its arrival with comments like “So much for El Niño”. However, the pattern has now firmly established […]
Field Days: A Resounding Success for Visitors and Exhibitors Alike
TL;DR: Southern Field Days near Gore recently witnessed an unprecedented turnout, with 45,000 attendees marking a record in its history. The event, celebrated for bringing together the agricultural community, saw visitors ready to invest in a variety of products, from four-wheelers and motorbikes to clothing and small implements. This surge in attendance and spending came […]
US Pork Exports Set to Surpass Chicken by 2033, Predicts USDA ERS
TL;DR: The USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released projections indicating a significant shift in the landscape of U.S. meat exports over the next decade. For the first time since 1976, pork exports are expected to overtake chicken, marking a historic change attributed to increasing overseas incomes and a slight decline in the real exchange […]
Colorado State University Introduces a New Sustainability Tool for the Beef Industry
TL;DR: In an effort to bolster sustainability within the beef sector, Colorado State University’s AgNext research collaborative has unveiled the Feed Additive Calculator Tool (FACT) for Beef. This innovative, open-access tool is designed to aid farmers, ranchers, and feeders in quantifying methane emissions from their operations and assessing the financial implications of incorporating methane-reducing feed […]
Margins for Beef and Pork Packers Narrow, Sterling Reports Indicate
TL;DR: In the latest reports from Sterling, both beef and pork packer margins experienced a downturn over the past week. The beef sector, in particular, felt the pinch as cash cattle prices rose by $3.50 per cwt, improving closeouts by $48 per head but still leaving losses at $6 per head. This uptick in cattle […]
Scientists Question the Validity of Meat-Reduction Advocacy
TL;DR: A new study published in the prestigious journal Nature on February 5th has sparked a debate over the scientific basis behind current pushes to cut down red meat consumption for the sake of both human health and the environment. Dr. Alice Stanton from the Royal College of Surgeons led the research, pinpointing significant flaws […]
Conecuh Sausage to Open $58 Million Facility in Alabama
TL;DR: Conecuh Sausage, a renowned Alabama-based processor of hickory-smoked sausages, has unveiled plans for a significant expansion with an investment of nearly $58 million. This investment is earmarked for the establishment of a second production facility located in Andalusia, Alabama. This strategic move is set to bolster the company’s production capabilities, creating 110 new jobs […]
Is the Tide Starting to Turn on EU Climate Policies?
TL;DR: As election season unfolds across Europe, with the European Parliament elections set for May and many countries holding local elections, a significant question arises: Are we witnessing a shift in the European Union’s approach to climate policies, particularly those affecting agriculture? Dubbed the “greenest ever,” the current European Parliament has pushed for ambitious climate […]
