First ever biofuel kiwifruit charter completed
Fresh Carriers Co. Ltd (FCC) and Zespri have completed the first ever kiwifruit charter powered by a low-emissions fuel.
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton predicts that 2025 will be a better year for farmers.
He told Rural News he's optimistic that overall farmgate returns in the coming year will be more favourable than they have been the past 12 to 18 months.
The company is now in the middle of a series of farmer roadshows and Boulton says farmers generally share his optimism, are buoyed about what they are hearing and have a bit more spring in their step.
“We have come off the floor. North America is going to be very short of beef for the next couple of years. The big supply dynamics that we saw from South America and Australia are forecast to ease, and in the UK, lamb is in short supply and there will be some favourable gains in that space as well,” he says.
Boulton says this all points to a better balance in supply and demand which will lead to better pricing. He says, on top of that, the foundational work that SFF has done investing in their strategy, including in sustainability, is coming to the fore. He says this is resonating positively with SFF’s big corporate customers where there is value to be had. He says these initiatives are paying dividends and adds that their own survey shows they have record farmer loyalty, strong customer satisfaction and a high degree of positivity from company staff. Boulton says a key message to farmers right now is to make sure they book their stock in early and liaise closely with their livestock reps.
He says in his recent travels up the east coast of the North Island there are signs of drought and similar conditions emerging in the Waikato, King Country and the east coast of the South Island.
So far it’s been a slow start to the season and one of the quietist procurement supply windows for many years. He says this has led to challenges getting enough stock to the works and market.
The result has been good prices for bull and cow beef and even prime lambs. But he warns that this may change quickly once the season gets into full swing.
He says while SFF has been going through a quiet period, they have used this time to recruit and train some of the 1000 workers they need for the season.
“This is not unusual to previous years, but we have had to manage shifts so that we don’t have empty hooks,” he says.
But with the prospect of drier weather, Boulton is predicting a stronger finish to 2024 and one that will exceed previous seasons.
“Livestock flows are often determined by the weather and those signals of westerly winds and a dry east coast where lambs are doing pretty well will come into play. We are forecasting lambs to come forward earlier than we have seen before, so we are telling farmers to get their bookings in early to a avoid a jam up going into Christmas.”
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
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