Changing global trade ties
OPINION: I recently returned from a market visit overseas, including the United Kingdom and Europe. These are critical, historically important and increasingly high value markets for our red meat exports.
Local cheesemakers are facing competition from subsidised frozen EU imports flooding the NZ market, tariff-free, says Whitestone Cheese managing director Stephen Berry.
Berry says NZ's open door trade policy provides zero protection to New Zealand domestic producers.
"Inferior industrially bulk manufactured EU cheese are becoming more and more prevalent in our market as a result."
Another challenge facing local cheesemakers is accessing naming rights already used in Europe.
Cheese produced in New Zealand branded as 'feta' will have to find another name under the free trade agreement (FTA) the Government recently secured with the European Union.
The deal includes what are referred to as geographic indications (GI), which are names of products unique to a certain area that a country or market wants to protect.
"The naming rights of feta is an opportunity for NZ producers to stamp our quality mark on our own NZ fetas, separating them from the inferior EU bulk industrial shipments. It will be interesting to see if Danish feta cheese, where the majority is produced in Europe, is able to use the Greek certified name," says Berry.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: It's official, Fieldays 2025 clocked 110,000 visitors over the four days.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.