Move over ham, here comes lamb
It’s official, lamb will take centre stage on Kiwi Christmas tables this year.
MEAT COMPANIES that supply supermarkets and sell New Zealand lamb as a loss leader in the United Kingdom should lose their access to this valuable quota market, says Labour's Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor.
"Our reputation as a Lamb producer must be hurt by today's reports that Welsh farmers are protesting outside British supermarkets where New Zealand lamb is being sold at what those farmers claim are artificially low prices," says O'Connor.
"Those prices are in turn reducing the price of British lamb at the height of the northern hemisphere season.
"Such action by supermarkets destroys the value and the image of New Zealand lamb as a premium product grown and processed to the highest international standards of food production.
"Any loss leader action undermines New Zealand's brand. New Zealand farmers will be horrified to think their quality lamb products are being misused by UK supermarket chains. The value of their lamb is being missed as well as that of Welsh farmers.
"I have sympathy for New Zealand and Welsh farmers, all who should receive more for their lamb rather than see their product sold for a song by UK supermarket chains battling for market share," O'Connor says.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.
Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines, boosting capacity to meet growing international demand.

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