Red meat sector battles on
It's a bloody tough year for sheep farmers, but the worst may be over, and the future looks optimistic.
The country's second largest milk processor says any negative impact of coronavirus should be short lived.
Open Country Dairy chief executive Steven Koekemoer has told milk suppliers that how long it takes to contain the virus is key.
“The latest general view is that any negative impact should be short lived,” he says.
“The fundamentals around supply/demand have not changed but the timing of containment of the virus will be key.”
OCD will review the situation this month but says at this stage it sees no reason to adjust the forecast payout. “If the outbreak is controlled in the short term, then we should see higher demand resume and pricing recover.”
OCD has strategically diversified its markets over the last few years to ensure exposure in China is limited.
“I am confident that in a general tightening global market, we will have no issues selling our product. No doubt pricing in the short term may be impacted, however, we are getting to the tail end of the season and will just need to ride it out,” Koekemoer said.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
The horticulture sector is a big winner from recent free trade deals sealed with the Gulf states, says Associate Agriculture Minister Nicola Grigg.
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