fbpx
Print this page
Friday, 31 January 2020 09:28

Coronavirus forces NZ meat shipments away from China

Written by  Staff Reporters
Silver Fern Farms has been forced to divert product from China. Silver Fern Farms has been forced to divert product from China.

Meat processor Silver Fern Farms is being forced to divert product away from China as coronavirus ravages its biggest market.

Read: Coronavirus starting to impact meat processing.

SFF chief executive Simon Limmer says it is working with its Chinese partners to monitor the situation on a daily basis.

“We are diverting product to other markets….while short-term these markets deliver lower value returns, and will unfortunately have an impact on upcoming livestock pricing, it will enable us to maintain our ability to process stock.

“While beef and lamb items can be diverted, we have very limited market options for mutton with China the main global market for mutton.”

SFF is reducing mutton processing at its plants from next week and says it recognises the impact of its decision on NZ farmers.

“During peak production and with limited feed availability, the timing of this event is challenging and processing continuity is important,” Limmer says.

He is urging farmers to talk to their SFF representatives for more information.

More like this

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Featured

Massey University Wiltshire trial draws growing farmer interest

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.

Rural health programme inspires new optometry graduate

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).

National

India FTA negotiations end

A landmark moment for New Zealand. That's how  Prime Minister Christopher Luxon describes the conclusion of negotiations for an India-New…

Machinery & Products