Alliance Group chief executive steps down
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
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.
Arable growers worried that some weeds in their crops may have developed herbicide resistance can now get the suspected plants tested for free.
Fruit growers and exporters are worried following the discovery of a male Queensland fruit fly in Auckland this week.
Dairy prices have jumped in the overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, breaking a five-month negative streak.
Alliance Group chief executive Willie Wiese is leaving the company after three years in the role.
A booklet produced in 2025 by the Rotoiti 15 trust, Department of Conservation and Scion – now part of the Bioeconomy Science Institute – aims to help people identify insect pests and diseases.
A Taranaki farmer and livestock agent who illegally swapped NAIT tags from cows infected with a bovine disease in an attempt to sell the cows has been fined $15,000.

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…
OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…