Government invests $8 million in LIC methane research to reduce dairy emissions
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
This year won't be an easy one for the red meat sector, says Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.
Speaking to Rural News at the National Lamb Day celebrations at Parliament, she said there are big domestic and international challenges on the horizon as well as a lot of geopolitical issues NZ cannot control.
"But we are watching them very closely and I think the foundation that we have in the industry put us in a good position to be able to pivot and mitigate the risks if they come," she says.
Karapeeva says the new Trump administration is unpredictable so there is potential for disruption. She says for now they are just watching for any change that directly impacts the sector.
Trump's trade policies come at a time when the US operates a large negative trade balance with the rest of the world. This happens when a country buys or imports more from other countries than it sells or exports to them.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay points out that NZ's trade with the US is well balanced and complementary.
"We more or less buy similar amounts from each other. Actually, NZ exporters face higher tariffs into the US than their exporters do to us," he told Rural News. "So there is a very good story to tell the administration about the fact that we are good partners, we get on well, we trade very well with each other, we respect the rules and there are ways to grow trade between the two countries," he says.
McClay says it's good that NZ doesn't have a huge trade imbalance with the USA and this should be to our advantage. He says that in the coming year, he and other NZ politicians will be visiting the US to talk to their counterparts and officials and also to meet them on the sidelines of other world events.
In the meantime, Karapeeva says the sector intends to keep a low profile and let things ride.
There has been talk of a slow start to the meat processing sector - especially in the South Island - and Karapeeva says while there may be some over capacity in some areas, it's important this is retained to manage the ebbs and flows of the season. She says the season is just kicking off but it's unlikely there will be any increase in stock numbers anytime soon.
"We will do the best to process in a timely manner and get the product into the export markets as required," she says.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
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