Biosecurity award for M. bovis work
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
TOTAL AGRICULTURAL export earnings for 2014-15 will be down 9.5%, warns the Ministry of Primary Industries.
Unsurprisingly, dairy export revenue will be down this year, but the drop will be partly offset by better-than-expected growth in other primary sectors, according to revised forecasts from MPI.
MPI released today a mid-year update on forecasts from its Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries 2014 (SOPI 2014), which was released in June.
The update revises the forecast for total primary industry export earnings to $34.6 billion for July 2014 to July 2015, a drop of 9.5% from record earnings of $38.2 billion in the previous year.
The main reason for the fall is a $4.2 billion drop in dairy export revenue, due largely to reduced demand as a result of Russian trade sanctions and high inventory levels in China.
Off-setting the dairy fall, market conditions for beef are likely to be strong for the next two years, says Jarred Mair, director sector policy.
"A combination of strong US demand and drought conditions in Australia mean that we have seen record lean beef prices this year.
MPI forecasts that meat and wool export revenue will rise by $518 million this year.
Mair also expects to see increases in export revenue from seafood, horticulture, arable, live animals, other agricultural and food products.
"We're seeing improved demand for New Zealand's top earning seafoods such as rock lobster, mussels and salmon.
"Another positive is Psa disease has had less impact on the Gold3 kiwifruit cultivar than initially thought, which has pushed up export volumes," says Mair.
Forestry sector export revenues are expected to return to growth in 2015-14 as demand for logs increases.
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.
New findings from not-for-profit food supply and distribution organization, the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) have revealed a 42% increase in demand for food support in 2023 compared to 2022.
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of Canterbury Agricultural Park for public use while helping to provide long-term certainty for the A&P Show.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.