China’s new beef tariffs expected to favour New Zealand exporters
Additional tariffs introduced by the Chinese Government last month on beef imports should favour New Zealand farmers and exporters.
Silver Fern Farms is consulting with staff at its North Island Wairoa mutton processing plant and its South Island Mossburn venison plant on options for closing the two small sites.
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dean Hamilton says: “with changing livestock flows, there is the opportunity for the company to become more efficient and offer our farmer suppliers improved service by operating fewer plants for longer during a season.”
“Both plants operate in regions where we have other plants which can manage the combined levels of livestock processing in the region.”
Employees at Mossburn are being given options to work at the company’s Waitane, Kennington or Finegand sites. Frasertown employees will have the option of transferring to Takapau or Pacific in the Central Hawke’s Bay. Frasertown employs 67 staff, while Mossburn employs 43 staff.
“We have a great group of people at both sites, a number of whom are already working at these alternative locations and we will be discussing these options with the Union and the consultation committee.” says Hamilton.
Farm software outfit Trev has released new integrations with LIC, giving farmers a more connected view of animal performance across the season and turning routine data capture into actionable farm intelligence.
Crafting a successful family succession plan is a notoriously hard act to pull off.
Farmers need not worry about fertiliser supply this autumn but the prices they pay will depend on how the Middle East conflict plays out.
American butter undercutting New Zealand's own product on New Zealand supermarket shelves appears to be a case of markets working as they should, says Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ).
Tech savvy Huntly farmer Rhys Darby believes technology could help solve one of the dairy industry's pressing problems - how to attract more young people into farming.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.

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