Water Concerns Dominate Horticulture Sector Talks
TL;DR: HortNZ discusses water storage and allocation amid El Nino, advocating for policies supporting horticulture’s growth and environmental sustainability. HortNZ’s grower meetings have sparked intense discussions on water use and storage amidst the dry spell brought on by the El Nino weather pattern. Nadine Tunley, CEO of HortNZ, emphasises the critical need for robust water […]
Legal Uncertainty for Canterbury Plains Irrigators
TL;DR: High Court ruling questions future discharge consents in Canterbury, highlighting the need for RMA reform and creating uncertainty for farmers and regional water management practices. A High Court ruling has cast doubt on future nitrogen discharge consents in Canterbury. Colin Hurst, Vice President of Federated Farmers, sees this as a signal for urgent Resource […]
Minor Uplifts in Farm Prices
TL;DR: Farmgate dairy and beef prices rise, lamb remains low. Dairy outlook improves, but challenges persist. Economic growth could support agricultural prices, amidst geopolitical risks. Farmgate prices for dairy and beef are on the rise, while lamb remains lower, as noted in BNZ’s Rural Wrap. Doug Steel, a BNZ economist, mentioned seeing positive shifts in […]
Inquiry Into Rural Banking on the Horizon
TL;DR: Parliament considers inquiry into rural banking disparities, responding to farmers’ growing frustrations and advocacy efforts. Farmers may finally see an inquiry into rural banking practices. Parliament’s primary production committee has initiated a briefing to explore farmers’ concerns with banking. Mark Cameron, a dairy farmer and committee chair, confirmed the action, noting the gap between […]
Tough Times for Sheep Farmers
TL;DR: New Zealand’s sheep farmers face challenges from high costs, slow Chinese market recovery, and Australian competition, impacting profits and efficiency. Sheep farmers in New Zealand are hitting hard times. High costs, slow markets, and competition are big hurdles. Main Challenges The biggest issues come from high farming costs and slow sales to China. Australian […]
Wellness: A New Arena for Red Meat
TL;DR: Research explores the wellness benefits of red meat, revealing opportunities for tailored products and industry growth. AgResearch and Meat & Livestock Australia are exploring how red meat affects wellness. In the global meat market, the US and Australia are giants. Their people eat a lot of red meat. A survey showed most people in […]
Marlborough Drought Alert
TL;DR: Marlborough drought declared, bringing government support and relief to stressed farmers facing unprecedented conditions. Farmers in Marlborough are facing tough times due to drought, affecting their mental health and family life. Government Steps In The Government’s classification of the drought as a medium-scale event is a relief for local farmers. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay […]
A New Era for Red Meat
TL;DR: Leadership changes in New Zealand’s red meat sector introduce fresh approaches, focusing on efficiency and global market expansion, marking a decade of significant industry transformation. For a long time, politics in the meat industry were as intense as the butchering of animals. But, the last decade has seen a shift. Recently, leaders of New […]
Bridging the Animal Welfare Divide
TL;DR: A report highlights New Zealand’s animal welfare gap, showing many imports don’t meet local standards. It calls for extending NZ welfare laws to all products, aligning with public demand and ensuring fair competition. A recent report by Animal Policy International, the SPCA and the NZ Animal Law Association has shed light on a significant […]
New Zealand’s Primary Sector: Signs of Hope
TL;DR: The NZ primary sector shows signs of recovery. Dairy prices rebound, but meat prices struggle. Challenges remain, but an improved global economic outlook offers hope for modest price increases. ASB’s latest report suggests a brighter future for New Zealand’s primary sector. Prices for important commodities have risen, and forecasts have improved slightly. Changing expectations […]
