Red meat sector reaffirms commitment to China
The next phase of the Taste Pure Nature campaign has been launched in Shanghai, China.
Lamb, sheep and deer prices are likely to remain firm, but cow and bull prices could soften, according to the Alliance Group’s projections for the new season.
Heather Stacy, Alliance’s general manager livestock and shareholder services, told a recent meeting of shareholder farmers at Little River, Banks Peninsula, that prime beef prices should remain similar to last year at $5.00 - $5.40/kg early season and $4.80 - $5.20/kg post-Christmas.
However, she says bull and cow prices are under pressure and softening compared with last season. These are projected to be about $4.00 - $5.00/kg early season and $4.70 - $5.00/kg post-Christmas.
Stacy was outlining the farmer-owned co-op’s forecasts during its annual roadshow in which senior executives travel the country, updating shareholders on the co-op’s business.
Stacy says cattle give the co-op the most cause for caution.
“The influence of global supply out of Brazil, the US and Australia is having a downward draw on prices,” she told shareholders
“There is a misalignment between what we are capturing out of the market and an overheated livestock market in New Zealand; so that is where we are counselling caution.”
Forecasts for lamb were $5.70 - $7.00/kg early season and $5.50 - $6.00/kg post-Christmas. For sheep, Alliance is predicting $4.05 - $4.20/kg and $3.50 - $3.75/kg.
Stacy says demand for venison is very strong, but a risk exists that its high price on restaurant menus will prompting diners to substitute other meats. Venison forecasts were $9.85 - $10.20/kg and $9.00 - $9.30/kg.
"The worst of the worst" is how Richard Kempthorne, the chair of the Nelson Tasman Rural Support Trust, describes the cumulative effects of the two storms that have wreaked havoc across the top of the South Island.
The basis for making great cheese is good milk, says the owner of Banks Peninsula's Barry's Bay Cheese, which was named Champion of Champons Mid-Size, for its traditional Aged Gouda, at this year's NZ Champions of Cheese Awards.
The 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer of the Year, Ben Purua has been named farmer-backed charity Meet the Need's first official ambassador.
Global dairy prices have ended a two-month run of losses.
The world's largest dairy company may be in pole position to acquire Fonterra's Australian assets.
In a major win for farmers, the Government has directed regional councils to halt all work on plans and regional policy statement reviews under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
OPINION: Spare a thought for the arable farmer, squeezed on one side by soft global prices and on the other…
OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts…