Bank's desire to be part of the solution
ASB says the decision to sign on to the AgriZeroNZ joint venture came out of a wish to be a part of the solution.
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.
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
The Director General of MPI, Ray Smith says it's important for his department to celebrate the success of a whole range of groups and people around the country.
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
One of the country's top Māori sheep and beef farms is facing a five-year battle to get back to where it was before Cyclone Gabrielle struck just over 14 months ago.
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