India FTA ‘will be more than just sheepmeat exports'
New Zealand's red meat sector is looking at exporting more than sheepmeat products to India when a comprehensive free trade agreement is secured between the two countries.
A big shakeup in the honey sector is about to take place with the news that the industry good body, ApiNZ, and the export focused Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association are looking to merge to form a new industry body.
The chair of ApiNZ, Nathan Guy told Rural News that his organisation is no longer financially sustainable because its funding model is based on a voluntary membership. He says as honey returns have dropped so has the membership income that’s meant that the board of ApiNZ have made to make some hard decisions.
“These include reducing staff, relinquishing the office in Wellington and sharing desk with other organisation around the city while still maintaining a real focus on its strategy. A key pillar of this is about creating a united industry which is why we believe it is important to merge with UMFHA and create a new organisation,” he says
Guy says the new organisation will still have a voice for beekeepers on such things as bee health and advocacy to government but by joining up with UMFHA will have a strong export focus. He says the merger makes common sense and the leadership in both organisations can see the value in it – especially have a financially viable entity that will be able to deliver on the industry strategy which is to double the value of honey exports by 2030.
The industry has had a rollercoaster ride over many years with fluctuating prices and some honey simply unsold.
Members of both organisations are now being consulted on the proposal and the intention is to have the new entity in place by April 2025. In the meantime a whole range of issues relating to the proposed merger including membership and governance structure.
The chair of Beef + Lamb NZ, Kate Acland says the rush appears to be on to purchase farms and convert them to forestry before new rules limiting this come into effect.
New Zealand farmers will face higher urea prices this year, mainly on the back of tight global supply and a weak Kiwi dollar.
Andy Caughey of Wool Impact says a lot of people in NZ have been saying it's crazy that we are not using natural fibres in our buildings and houses.
Former chief executive of Beef+Lamb New Zealand Scott Champion will head the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) from July.
Avian flu getting into New Zealand's poultry industry is the biosecurity threat that is most worrying for Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.
The annual domestic utilisation of wool will double to 30,000 tonnes because of the edict that government agencies should use woollen fibre products in the construction of new and refurbished buildings.
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OPINION: The proposed RMA reforms took a while to drop but were well signaled after the election.