McIvor to step down in July
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chief executive Sam McIvor will step down in July.
FARMERS WILL support any agreement between meat processors on a moratorium on new plants, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons.
However, Parsons says the agreement must be backed by a large majority of the processors and be beneficial to farmers.
He confirmed support for a June discussion document that proposes a 12-year moratorium on new beef and sheep processing chains, including expansion of existing plants.
BLNZ has not taken a position on the proposal; Parsons is leaving the decision to directors and management of meat companies.
He says the proposal is not a silver bullet for meat industry woes but has the potential to “de-risk” issues of over-capacity. “A meat company which rationalises capacity at a plant won’t face the prospect of another company setting up a new plant down the road,” he says.
On the other hand, Parsons says some farmers would not see the over-capacity as an issue, given droughts over the last few years. “The last thing farmers would want is to have stock waiting to be killed.”
Trade Minister Todd McClay says New Zealand has no intention of backing down in a trade dispute with Canada over dairy products.
There have been leadership changes at the Hamilton-based Dairy Goat Co-operative, which has been struggling financially in recent years.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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