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Beef herd up, sheep flock flat

BLNZ Economic Service chief economist Andrew Burtt.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand says that during the past year the country’s beef herd increased by 2.8% to 3.6 million head.

Is the Kiwi farm endangered?

Lab-grown meat will be produced at $2/kg within five years and plant-based burgers that bleed are now in US restaurants and supermarkets, a recent conference heard.

Council jeopardises new water project

Minimum flow limits proposed by the Otago Regional Council for the Manuherikia River in Central Otago could undermine the Manuherikia Water Project, says former regional councillor and local farmer Gary Kelliher.

Farmers’ voices must be heard

Heading into an election that will be won or lost in the towns and cities, farmers must get a hearing on environmental issues, says Meat Industry Association chair John Loughlin.

Eradication remains the goal

MPI’s Geoff Gywnn says farmers may have to live with Ml.bovis if it cannot be eradicated.

As MPI keeps working to eradicate Mycoplasma bovis, it has warned farmers to be prepared for possible long-term management of the disease.

Record claims hit FMG

Rural insurer FMG says paying out a record amount of claims, because of the Kaikoura earthquake, has seen it incur a loss for the latest financial year.

Urban invaders hurt hort

Brent Wilcox says land and water pressures are putting growers at risk.

Uncertainty over continued access to fertile land and irrigation water are potentially forcing some vegetable growers out of business.

Irrigators question water tax

The good work farmers are already doing to minimise the environmental impact of irrigation could stop if they had to pay water royalties, says Irrigation New Zealand chair Nicky Hyslop.