Beef prices climb as supply contracts in key markets
With production volumes contracting in most major beef-producing regions, global cattle prices have continued to rise across recent months.
 Jay Clarke giving his presentation on the sustainable practices of his company Woodhaven at the Rabobank agricultural symposium in Sydney last month.
		  	
		  
		  		  
		  Jay Clarke giving his presentation on the sustainable practices of his company Woodhaven at the Rabobank agricultural symposium in Sydney last month.
		  
		  
		  
	  One of NZ's largest commercial vegetable growers says NZ can't have piecemeal regulations that differ from region to region.
Jay Clarke is director of the family-owned commercial growing business Woodhaven in the Horowhenua, which was started by his father John.
Clarke was a keynote speaker at Rabobank's recent agricultural symposium in Sydney, which attracted more than 1,600 people from Australasia.
His presentation on the sustainable practices of his company Woodhaven attracted a lot of positive feedback from delegates at the event.
Clarke told Hort News he loved the event and it was great to meet a number of talented people from around the world and hear their perspectives. He was also pleased with the response to his address.
He says, at present, NZ has a variable regulatory approach between regions and that this needs to change.
"You have got a situation where a huge proportion of the vegetable production in the Horizons region is essentially illegal - it requires a consent and there is no pathway for a consent at the moment," Clarke told Hort News.
"But there are other regions like Northland where there is no regulatory requirement whatsoever - so there is a lot of difference. As an industry we want to see that tidied up and see nationally consistent pathways that enable more healthy food production."
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| Woodhaven director Jay Clarke and manager Shane Richardson at the Rabobank agricultural symposium in Sydney. | 
Clarke says few people argue about the direction taken in terms of sustainability but believes there is some valid debate about how things might change in terms of farm systems. He says times are changing and while the cost of vegetables will come down, the days of a 99 cent lettuce are gone forever.
Clarke says the cost base for the producer has moved too much and it's unsustainable for companies like his to sell at very low prices. He told the conference vegetable production is largely a domestic industry in NZ.
"It's quite remarkable that all the veggies sold in NZ are produced on just 0.01% of the available agricultural land."
Clarke says the family company Woodhaven has invested heavily in providing quality incentives for staff - including scholarships. He says this is for good reason as crops need good skilled people to harvest them - especially with the type and perishability of the crops Woodhaven produce.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has blasted Fonterra farmers shareholders for approving the sale of iconic brands to a French company.
A major feature of the Ashburton A&P Show, to be held on October 31 and November 1, will be the annual trans-Tasman Sheep Dog Trial test match, with the best heading dogs from both sides of the Tasman going head-to-head in two teams of four.
Fewer bobby calves are heading to the works this season, as more dairy farmers recognise the value of rearing calves for beef.
The key to a dairy system that generates high profit with a low emissions intensity is using low footprint feed, says Fonterra program manager on-farm excellence, Louise Cook.

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