Higher Red Meat Returns Boost Farm Resilience in NZ
Red meat farmers are using higher farmgate returns to make their farms more resilient, says Federated Farmers meat and wool industry group chair Richard Dawkins.
An aerial view of Southland flooding on Thursday last week. Photo: High Country Helicopters/Facebook.
Organisers behind the Farmy Army, a clean-up group operating in flood-ravaged Southland are calling for volunteers.
The Federated Farmers-led group had over 100 volunteers working across Southland farms yesterday: around the same number will be back on farms today.
So far, the group has helped out on 26 farms in Southland and two in Otago, says Federated Farmers territory managers team leader, Laura Sanford.
“We’ve received a great response so far, but we still need people to stick their hand up to volunteer,” says Sanford.
Sanford encourages anyone who wants to help to get involved.
“The volunteers are a wide mix of demographics, age groups, and skill levels,”
“Community groups, businesses, and urban people from Invercargill have all been helping out.”
Sanford is also urging farmers not to hesitate in asking for help.
“If farmers think they will benefit from an Army on their farm, they should put their hand up... we're urging farmers not to sit on the fence."
Eighteen months ago, when negotiations for a free trade deal with India were announced, New Zealand apple growers expressed their desire to be part of the deal.
A warning to all those in the primary sector to prepare for an unpredictable El Niño weather pattern in the coming season.
The arable industry needs profitablity, so it doesn't disappear, says newly elected Federated Farmers Arable Industry Group chair, Chris Dillon.
Kāpiti's Triple Cream Blue cheese has been named Supreme Champion Cheese at the 2026 International Cheese and Dairy Awards in the United Kingdom.
Carpet maker Bremworth’s planned sale to the world’s largest flooring company is off the table.
Rising strong wool prices are finally returning the sector to profitability.

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