NZ red meat sector hits out at US tariff hike
New Zealand's red meat sector says the United States' decision to increase tariffs on New Zealand exports is disappointing.
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy recently launched a new scheme to lift the productivity and profitability of sheep and beef farmers in Manawatu-Whanganui.
The Sheep and Beef Land Productivity Programme comes out of the recently released Manawatu-Whanganui Growth Study, which identified the sheep and beef sector as a key opportunity for the region.
“This region has the largest number of sheep and beef cattle of any in New Zealand, so improving the performance of these farms will be an economic boost,” says Guy.
“We know the top 20% of red meat farmers achieve returns about four times more than those of the average red meat farmer, irrespective of land class and location. This shows the potential on offer.
Guy says a regional working group has begun developing a draft programme structure, looking at how to support farmers to reach their goals and remove barriers to them doing so.
“It will inform and inspire farmers through practical initiatives that make sense and work on the ground,” he adds.
“Of course the Government can’t and shouldn’t do this on our own and this will require involvement and investment by farmers and stakeholders. So it’s great to see there is widespread support from regional leaders to get cracking.”
Fertiliser co-operative Ballance has written down $88 million - the full value of its Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki - from its balance sheet in the face of a looming gas shortage.
The Government and horticulture sector have unveiled a new roadmap with an aim to double horticulture farmgate returns by 2035.
Canterbury farmers and the Police Association say they are frustrated by proposed cuts to rural policing in the region.
The strain and pressure of weeks of repairing their flood-damaged properties is starting to tell on farmers and orchardists in the Tasman district.
The sale price of Fonterra’s global consumer and associated businesses to the world’s largest dairy company Lactalis has risen to $4.22 billion.
Alliance Group's proposal to sell a 65% shareholding to Ireland's Dawn Meats won't solve the red meat industry's structural problems, says former Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams.
OPINION: Your old mate gets the sinking feeling that no matter who we vote into power in the hope they…
OPINION: Newsroom is running a series of articles looking into the influence of lobbying and has kicked it off with…