High volumes of imported pork flood NZ
Over 40,000 metric tons (MT) of overseas pork from 22 countries were imported into New Zealand in 2023.
The 2014 NZPork annual report has highlighted the importance of the New Zealand consumer to the future of its business, says chairman Ian Carter.
“We need to provoke interest in our product and our industry. We need to invoke confidence in our production standards and systems. And we need to evoke desire for our product.”
As stated in the report the pork industry recognises that pig farming is not well understood by many New Zealanders, particularly with regard to the requirements of caring for its animals. In light of this, the industry is taking steps to be more transparent and advocate confidence to its consumers via its production systems and standards.
Projects underway include the development of educational resources and enhancing the NZPork website with short films about the industry and its people. NZPork hope that the projects will be a useful tool in ensuring the public and consumers can better understand how pigs are farmed in New Zealand.
The Presentation Assessment, which is additional to the PigCare audit programme, began implementation in March 2014. The industry-wide independent welfare assurance, plus presentation assessment, is unique in New Zealand’s livestock industries.
“Sound animal welfare practices are critical for pork producers. It is vital to the industry’s success that animals are healthy and well cared for. Demonstrating that required standards are being met or exceeded builds confidence in the industry, but is also a challenge,” says Carter.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.