Strong growth in farm salaries - report
A new report shows farm employers across the dairy, sheep and beef, and arable sectors have continued to invest strongly in one of their greatest assets – their staff.
Beef prices have entered a “structural change” and are likely to stay 20-30% above historical averages, Rabobank’s Hayley Moynihan says.
“The US beef cycle is dead. I am not a big believer in cycles anymore in terms of agricultural markets. I don’t think we have cycles anymore and certainly the US beef cycle has been dead for about 10 years,” Moynihan, director of dairy research for NZ & Asia, said in answer to a question on beef prices at the DairyNZ Farmers Forum in Kerikeri.
“They have been in a state of constant decline with their cattle numbers. That said, grain prices are so low that there is a rebuilding phase starting to happen. That will happen for the next two to three years. But we are not going to see a huge lift in numbers. That market will remain very, very tight.”
Moynihan said beef prices have entered a structural change similar to that seen in dairy in 2006-2007. “We are now in a new price bracket because there is just not enough cattle around. To cover costs of production and incentivise production of beef we will have to stay at high levels historically. Not at the peaks we saw last year but certainly at 20-30% above historic averages.”
She said dairy beef doesn’t influence the market in the US to quite the same extent as here.
“US dairy farmers are a bit more opportunistic about cows and beef prices and certainly took advantage of it late last year. I met with a dairy farmer who was out here earlier this year and they were saying they could actually bring heifers into the dairy herd and make a cash gain on what they were selling the cull cows for.
“They were getting about US$2000 for a cull cow and with the cost of rearing and bringing the heifers in they were getting about US$300 a head cash gain which is extraordinary.”
That won’t last forever but it illustrates how opportunistic they are about replacements, she said.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.