Two new awards open to help young farmers progress to farm ownership
Entries have opened for two awards in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) programme, aimed at helping young farmers progress to farm ownership.
While the lowest lamb crop in 60 years should support prices, the market is being swamped by other factors at present.
While the lowest lamb crop in 60 years should support prices, the market is being swamped by other factors at present, says the ASB in its weekly commodities report.
These other factors include strong UK supply and weak Chinese demand, the report says.
In the UK, the high pound is making British lamb expensive in Europe and thus more UK lamb staying put in its domestic market. At the same time, a push to buy local from supermarket chains is hurting prices of NZ imports, the ASB says.
On net, the ASB expects prices to stay under par for the rest of this season.A pick-up in demand next season is expected to lift prices to a more healthy level.
Beef and Lamb NZ's 2015 lamb crop report showed that the crop is the smallest in nearly 60 years. The number of lambs tailed this spring was down 6.7% or 1.73 million on the previous spring to 23.9 million head.
The drought led to fewer breeding ewes as well as a lower number of lambs per ewe.
All up, the smaller lamb crop should help support prices, however at the moment the lower NZ supply is being swamped by those other factors, the ASB says.
Joshua Irving has been named the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Vets say they support the responsible use of virtual fencing and virtual herding technology for cattle and wants to work with farmers, manufacturers and government to help shape standards for future use backed by ongoing research to strengthen animal welfare outcomes.
National and world records tumbled as top Kiwi axeman claimed two Stihl Timbersports world titles at the same event in Budapest, Hungary over the first weekend in June.
A safety push across New Zealand has revealed significant gaps in hazardous substances management, farm vehicles, tractors, quad bikes and side-by-sides.
New Zealand farmers have earned a global edge by consistently yet cautiously taking advantage of emerging agri-technology.
New season data from LIC shows a strong reproductive performance for the 2025-26 season, with a lift in key metrics compared to last season.

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