$20m facial eczema research funding announced
Government and the red meat sector are teaming up to help eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) on farmed animals.
The red meat sector welcomes the announcement today that all steps are now completed to enable the Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to enter into force before the year end.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Korea is a significant step towards reducing the overall amount of tariffs paid on New Zealand red meat exports.
Tariffs of almost $323 million were paid on New Zealand red meat exports in 2014. A significant proportion of those tariffs were paid in Korea ($64 million) – where applied tariffs are 40% on beef.
The Korea FTA is critical for New Zealand sheep and beef farmers and meat exporters, ensuring New Zealand remains competitive in this key market.
Korea is New Zealand's fourth-largest beef market by volume, taking nearly $123 million of beef exports last year.
However, trade volumes have dropped in recent years, partly due to competitors such as the United States, and more recently Australia and Canada, having a tariff advantage through their FTAs with Korea.
New Zealand red meat exports will benefit from two rounds of tariff cuts in quick succession – the first on entry-into-force of the agreement on 20 December, and a second round of cuts on 1 January 2016.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) work together to improve access for sheep and beef products to overseas markets, including by providing in-depth analysis in support of the Government's FTA negotiation efforts.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.