The sheep and beef sector may be closer to carbon neutral status than it realises, says James Parsons in his final speech as chairman of Beef + Lamb NZ.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) chairman James Parsons will step down in March next year.

Beef + Lamb NZ chair James Parsons sees forestry as a potential fishhook in the new coalition agreement.

The European Union ambassador to New Zealand has denied claims by the NZ meat industry that it has done the dirty on this country over access to the UK and EU markets for lamb and mutton when Britain leaves the EU.

The New Zealand meat industry could be hit by fallout from the tense and divisive Brexit negotiations.

Farmers are backing moves by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to cull animals on farms affected by the disease Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis).

Sheep and beef farmers will not be paying extra levies for the year starting October 1.

The Labour Party’s water tax policy is “pretty short on details,” and the farming sector needs to have input into a final plan, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons.

The pastoral sector is reacting to negative news reporting and comment, rather than being proactive and talking about its vision for water quality in New Zealand, claims Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons.

Confidence precedes investment, so if farmers are confident in the future and the information they are getting, they will invest, says Beef + Lamb NZ chairman James Parsons.