Red meat industry hails new migrant visa rules as win for jobs and exports
New Zealand's red meat processing and exporting sector has welcomed the government's announcement of new work visas.
New Zealand exported $1.1 billion worth of red meat during June despite ongoing supply chain issues, according to an analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The 15% increase in value compared to June 2021 was largely driven by beef exports, particularly to China.
Although the total volume of beef exports was down 7%, the overall value was up 23% to $504 million.
The value of beef exports to China was up 39% to $217 million.
The overall volume of sheepmeat exported was largely unchanged compared to June 2021, at 32,470 tonnes, with value up 15% to $398 million.
Volumes of chilled sheepmeat exports, however, continued to drop, down 31% to 2,253 tonnes.
Sheepmeat exports to China saw a drop in volume (21%) and value (31%) compared to the same period last year, but this was offset by increases in exports to other major sheepmeat markets.
That included the UK with volume up 14% and value up 28% to $40m, and the United States, where the volume increased by 12% and the value by 63% to $58m.
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of the MIA, describes the performance as remarkable in the face of challenging supply chain issues.
“What is also pleasing is that our grass-fed sustainable beef and lamb is clearly in demand across the globe. Consumers are increasingly valuing our natural low-impact farming practices and our farmers deserve a lot of credit for this,” Karapeeva says.
Total exports for the June 2021/2022 year were worth just under $11 billion, an increase in value of 20% compared to 2020/21 period.
Sheepmeat value was up 12% to $4.3 billion and beef by 28% to $4.6 billion.
“This clearly shows the hard work of our meat processing and exporting companies, who are capturing as much value as they can for the New Zealand economy under really trying circumstances,” says Karapeeva.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.