Kiwis Pick Lamb as the Star of Christmas Dinners
In the land of the long white cloud, lamb is the king when it comes to the Christmas feast! Retail Meat New Zealand’s latest survey, which has become a festive tradition itself, now in its sixth year, has dished out some interesting findings. Over 3,000 Kiwis chimed in, and guess what? A good 34.29% of […]
New Zealand Rings in Its Very First National Lamb Day
In a nod to a pivotal chapter in its history, New Zealand has rolled out the red carpet for its inaugural National Lamb Day. This isn’t just any date on the calendar; it’s a throwback to a landmark event back in 1882. Picture this: the Dunedin, a ship loaded with the first batch of frozen […]
Downward Trend in Lamb Prices Due to Multiple Factors
The lamb market is currently experiencing a downward pressure on prices, influenced by a variety of factors. In Australia, aggressive flock rebuilding efforts following La Niña weather conditions have resulted in the highest flock levels since 2007. This increase, coupled with below-average rainfall, has led to a significant rise in lamb slaughter rates – over […]
Federated Farmers Survey Reveals Growing Pressure on Farmers from Banks
The latest Banking Survey conducted by Federated Farmers has uncovered increasing pressure on farmers from their banks, with a record number of farmers reporting ‘undue pressure’ and declining satisfaction with their banking relationships. The survey carried out in mid-November, found that 25.8% of farmers felt undue pressure from their banks in the past six months, […]
Australia and New Zealand Begin Consultation on Pioneering Cell-Cultured Meat Application
Australia and New Zealand are currently engaging in a public consultation regarding an innovative food application. This consultation, initiated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), focuses on a submission from the Australian company Vow Group Pty Ltd (“Vow”). The application seeks to amend the Australia and New Zealand Food Standards Code (“the Code”) to […]
Dairy, Beef, Lamb, and Farm Inputs: An Overview of Recent Market Trends in Oceania
Dairy Market Developments In October, there were encouraging signs for Oceania’s dairy exporters, with a general firming of commodity prices. Notably, Oceania FOB powder prices saw a rally of more than 10% due to less favourable milk production signals from New Zealand. While butter prices also strengthened, cheese prices declined, influenced by a weak US […]
East Coast Farmers in New Zealand Face Uncertain Future Amid Weather Challenges and Market Concerns
Farmers on New Zealand’s East Coast are facing a period of uncertainty and challenge following a series of weather-related setbacks. Gisborne-based AgFirst consultant Peter Andrew reported that many farmers, having recently repaired infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and subsequent rainstorms, are now dealing with further destruction caused by recent rainfall. Andrew explained that farmers had […]
New Zealand Government to Repeal Fair Pay Agreement Legislation, Extending 90-Day Trial Periods for All Employers
Farmers in New Zealand have received welcome news as the new Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden, announced the government’s decision to repeal Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) legislation by Christmas 2023. This move has been particularly significant for the agricultural sector, which had expressed strong opposition to the FPAs. Richard McIntyre, the Feds […]
New Zealand Set to Resume Live Animal Exports with Enhanced ‘Gold Standard’ Welfare Requirements
Live animal exports from New Zealand are poised to resume, subject to new ‘gold standard’ requirements aimed at enhancing animal welfare and safety. This development follows commitments from National, ACT, and NZ First during election campaigning to reverse the ban on live exports while implementing improved welfare standards. The new government has confirmed its intention […]
Global Dairy Summit Reveals Divergent Approaches to Farming Challenges: New Zealand’s Regulatory Stance Contrasts with International Trends
At the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit held in Chicago in late 2023, Richard McIntyre, Federated Farmers’ dairy chair, gained insights into global dairy farming challenges and approaches, particularly contrasting New Zealand’s methods with those of other countries. McIntyre observed that dairy farmers worldwide face similar challenges, but the response strategies vary significantly. He […]
