$20m facial eczema research funding announced
Government and the red meat sector are teaming up to help eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmed animals.
The red meat sector wants to know what attributes in beef and lamb products are important to key consumers and how it influences their purchase decisions.
A research project led by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, Greenlea Premier Meats and Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit (AERU) will be focused on high market potential states or cities in the US and China, will test consumers’ awareness of New Zealand red meat and gain an understanding of the attributes that are important to them.
The study also aims to understand the strength of consumer preferences for beef and lamb that carry the attributes that align with personal values and beliefs.
AERU will uncover the channels consumers use to research and purchase their beef and lamb and understand the importance of certification for animal welfare and environmental responsibility in driving purchasing decisions.
Sam McIvor, chief executive of B+LNZ, says the research reflected the organisation’s commitment to supporting the red meat sector to capture greater market value.
“Anecdotal evidence suggests consumers in many of New Zealand’s markets are willing to pay a premium for red meat produced with the attributes that align with their values and aspirations.
However, if we are asking farmers to make changes in response to what consumers are asking for, we need to be confident that those changes will be rewarded financially, that is, that any added costs on farm are more than compensated for in the market.
“The outcomes of this research will support the activation of the NZ red meat story being developed by B+LNZ and the commercial activities of this country’s meat.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.