Red meat rebound
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
In its submission to the Government, Beef+Lamb NZ has rejected the Government’s proposed agricultural emissions pricing system.
B+LNZ has called for essential changes to ensure the resulting system does not disproportionately impact sheep and beef farmers.
Chair Andrew Morrison says the Government’s own modelling reinforces the need for changes. He says this modelling shows that sheep and beef farmers will bear the brunt of the proposals.
“Their proposal has caused concern and anger in rural communities up and down the country,” he says.
“The Government must address key questions around equity and fairness before proceeding with emissions pricing.”
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.

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