The North Island cow kill has still yet to find its feet. This continues to help support beef schedule prices which continue to hold fairly steady. Returning to a full kill week a fortnight ago, the kill increased slightly from the shorter Easter weeks but was still struggling to match levels seen at this time of the year. Just over 21,000 cows were slaughtered the week ending April 21st, down on the usual 27,000/wk for this time of the season.

50-56% of all the beef eaten in the US was in ground beef form last year. US veteran economist and agribusiness consultant Bill Helming forecasts that will lift to 65% by or before 2030 as the percentage of beef consumed in whole muscle form declines.

Fonterra chief executive officer Theo Spierings has announced members of his senior management team as part of a reshaping of the organisation to deliver on its group strategy refresh announced in late March.

The 3.1% increase in fruit and vegetable exports in 2011 is a great result given the negative impacts of a 6.5% rise in the value of the New Zealand dollar and difficult market conditions in the same period.