Santa's present for the primary sector - an FTA with India
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
OPINION: This old mutt reckons the latest red meat export numbers bring to mind the old maxim, "When China sneezes, the world catches a cold".
Certainly, it's lower demand from China that's holding back a recovery to full health in meat industry returns, whoch had been decidedly sick until recently.
MIA data shows positive growth overall in June, driven by the US, up 14% to $303m, Japan up 53% to $61m, the UK up 66% to $61m and Canada, up 94% to $51m.
China, still the second largest market after the US, was down 38% to $176m - dragging the June average back to a 2% increase overall.
Same deal with second quarter red meat exports, down 1% to $2.9b despite all major markets boosting volumes, except China, which was down a whopping 40%.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
According to Ravensdown's most recent Market Outlook report, a combination of geopolitical movements and volatile market responses are impacting the global fertiliser landscape.
Environment Canterbury, alongside industry partners and a group of farmers, is encouraging farmers to consider composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to offal pits.
A New Zealand dairy industry leader believes the free trade deal announced with India delivers wins for the sector.
The Coalition Government will need the support of at least one opposition party to ratify the free trade deal with India.

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