2026 Meat Industry Association scholarship applications open
Applications have now opened for the 2026 Meat Industry Association scholarships.
The New Zealand red meat sector continues to perform strongly with overall exports reaching $937 million in June, up 16% year-on-year, according to the latest analysis from the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
Sheepmeat exports increased by 15% to $345 million compared with June 2020.
Beef exports rose 8% to $411 million and co-products rose by 40% to $181 million.
There was also an increase in the value of all categories of co-products, with the largest two categories – prepared meat products and edible offals – increasing by 88% and 30% respectively.
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, says China was the largest overall market in June with exports worth $377 million, an increase of 37% compared to the same period in 2020.
“We saw a very significant increase in beef exports to China during June, with a 60% increase year-on-year to $156 million.
“China’s domestic pork production continues to be affected by African Swine Fever, resulting in demand for high volumes of imported meat. New Zealand has also benefited from reduced supply from other major beef exporters such as Australia, which is re-building its herd, and Argentina, where the government has imposed restrictions on beef exports,” says Karapeeva.
She says that over the past 12 months, New Zealand has exported $9.1 billion in red meat and co-products.
She says that while this is 3% lower than 2020, it is still very high.
While global meat prices remained high in 2020/21, they were down on the 2019/20 levels, and the value of the New Zealand dollar has also increased against major currencies like the US dollar over the last year.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

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