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 will be fronting farmers at three large public meetings organised by Federated Farmers over the coming weeks.
Federated Farmers and a major Australian-owned bank are at loggerheads over emissions reduction targets set for New Zealand farmer clients.
More locally grown tomatoes are coming to stores this month and you can thank New Zealand greenhouses for that.
Changing skill demands and new job opportunities in the primary sector have prompted Massey University to create a new degree course and add a significant major into another in 2025.
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
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