There was one outstanding achievement that Sam McIvor can bask in the glory of from his time as chief executive at B+LNZ and that is the much-improved relationships across the wider primary sector.

New Zealand must be front and centre of international discussions affecting the red meat sector.

The meat industry is launching a campaign in China to make consumers aware of the unique health attributes of New Zealand's grass-fed animal meat.

MPI director-general Ray Smith acknowledges the tough times that sheep and beef farmers are going through in terms of loss of profitability and says he's been to many of the regions hammered by weather events. He describes the situation as heartbreaking.