Red meat's China push
The red meat sector is launching a new campaign to lure Chinese consumers to New Zealand grass-fed beef and lamb.
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.
National Lamb Day, the annual celebration honouring New Zealand’s history of lamb production, could see a boost in 2025 as rural insurer FMG and Rabobank sign on as principal partners.
The East Coast Farming Expo is playing host to a quad of ‘female warriors’ (wahine toa) who will give an in-depth insight into the opportunities and successes the primary industries offer women.
New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is sharing simple food safety tips for Kiwis to follow over the summer.
Beef produced from cattle from New Zealand's dairy sector could provide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of up to 48, compared to the average for beef cattle, a new study by AgResearch has found.
The Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey found farmers' expectations for their own business operations had also improved, with the net reading on this measure lifting to +37% from +19% previously.
Confidence is flowing back into the farming sector on the back of higher dairy and meat prices, easing interest rates and a more farmer-friendly regulatory environment.
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