Another crack to increase B+LNZ director fees
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is having another crack at increasing the fees of its chair and board members.
Global uncertainty caused by Covid and related disruption to supply chains, as well as a global shortage of labour, are cited as contributing factors to a forecast drop in NZ red meat export returns.
That's the crux of Beef+Lamb NZ's (B+LNZ) new season outlook report, which was published last week.
Chief economist Andrew Burtt says receipts from red meat exports will be about $8 billion, slightly down on 2020-21.
While lamb export receipts are forecast to increase by 2.2% to $3.6 billion on 2020-21, beef and veal export receipts are forecast to decline by 7% to $3.9 billion, driven by a decline in production and the adverse impact of the high NZ dollar on export values.
However, Burtt says the overall outlook is positive, with the fundamentals in key markets seen as solid. He says there is strong demand and tight supply, meaning prices in export markets are forecast to lift for both sheepmeat and beef.
On farm, the lamb crop this season is expected to be 22.8 million - up point 9% on last year, reflecting an increase in ewe and hogget lambing percentages. On the beef side, export production is forecast to be down by 5%.
According to the report, farmer confidence is mixed. While on-farm profitability is positive, resilience is being tested by the volatility of adverse weather events and the extent of environmental regulation.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
OPINION: The world is bracing for a trade war between the two biggest economies.