Winter grazing warning
Every time people from overseas see photographs of cows up to their hocks in mud it's bad for New Zealand.
There has been much commentary about China with concerns about how Covid lockdowns there have dented consumer confidence, driving down consumer spending.
But a recent report by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) predicts that the Chinese market will recover later this year - a view backed up by major exporters. It would also seem that the recent NZ trade mission to China has breathed new optimism into the market.
Speaking at the recent Federated Farmers annual conference, the Minister Counsellor Trade for the Chinese Embassy in NZ, Chen Zhiyang, spoke positively about the recent trade mission saying the outcomes were good news for NZ farmers and Chinese consumers. He went on to say that there is potential for expansion and cooperation in the area of primary products.
"NZ products, especially primary products, are very popular in the China market because they have the reputation of being 100% pure and of very high quality," he says.
Zhiyang says trade had brought tangible benefits between the two countries.
Meanwhile, PM Chris Hipkins discussed his recent trade mission to China and was clearly ecstatic about the way the trip had gone. He said relations between the two countries were excellent and - most importantly - the business-to-business relationship is thriving and has the potential to grow even more.
Hipkins says there are 1.4 billion consumers in China and one of their government's objectives is to double the number of middle-income earners over the next decade meaning more consumers looking for the quality produce and products NZ has to offer.
"There is nothing quite like going into a supermarket somewhere in the world, such as China, and seeing so many NZ products on display - whether it is kiwifruit or beef or lamb or some of the manufactured products. It was a bit of a buzz for me as the Prime Minister."
Hipkins says one take-home message for him was the importance of NZ's clean, green, sustainable reputation when it comes to growing our export market share. He says our international reputation is critical to continuing to expand our export opportunities.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the relationship between New Zealand and the US will remain strong and enduring irrespective of changing administrations.
More than 200 people turned out on Thursday, November 21 to see what progress has been made on one of NZ's biggest and most comprehensive agriculture research programmes on regenerative agriculture.
The a2 Milk Company (a2MC) says securing more China label registrations and developing its own nutritional manufacturing capability are high on its agenda.
Stellar speakers, top-notch trade sites, innovation, technology and connections are all on offer at the 2025 East Coast Farming Expo being once again hosted in Wairoa in February.
As a guest of the Italian Trade Association, Rural News Group Machinery Editor Mark Daniel took the opportunity to make an early November dash to Bologna to the 46th EIMA exhibition.
Livestock can be bred for lower methane emissions while also improving productivity at a rate greater than what the industry is currently achieving, research has shown.
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