NZ Venison on menu for Korea?
Graham Brown, the executive chef for Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ), is excited about Korea.
Improved market conditions for venison are expected for the 2021 season, according to industry body Deer Industry NZ (DINZ).
“In the next few weeks, some venison companies will be offering minimum price supply contracts for the game season, for shipment of chilled venison during September and October,” says DINZ chair Ian Walker.
He says that in 2020, amidst Covid-19 lockdowns in Europe, contracts were offered at between $7 and $7.20 per kilogram.
“This year, we are seeing restaurants starting to reopen in North America. Also, prices for all meat in major world markets have begun what economists expect will be a steady, long-run climb,” Walker says.
However, the most recent Westpac Meat Matters report, released 19 February, suggests a slightly less optimistic outlook.
It states that venison prices have remained weak in 2021 so far.
According to the report, prices have so far slid 2.9%.
“However, we see light at the end of the tunnel for venison producers,” it reads.
The report predicts that in the German market, vaccine rollout will boost demand and prices over the course of 2021.
It also notes that pickup will be gradual and price pickup won’t happen until midway through the year.
Meanwhile, Walker says there are two markets where growth is occurring: China and the United States.
“Prospects in North America and demand from China – a developing market for venison – keeps growing.”
He says that DINZ will be working with five major venison marketing companies to build year-round demand for venison, particularly at retail and online for home delivery.
“We fully recognise that deer farmers need a schedule premium over lamb to make venison production a competitive land use. The industry was achieving that until the impact of Covid,” Walker adds.
“Venison prices will improve. And hopefully none of us will have to deal with another pandemic in our lifetimes.”
He says that because deer farmers can bank on getting better prices during the chilled season, they should target getting venison animals away before the end of October, if that fits with their farm system.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.