The news comes as the apple and pear harvest starts to take off with more than 14,000 workers picking 600,000 tonnes of fruit. MPI, Beef + Lamb and DairyNZ are not taking their eye off the ball of Mycoplasma bovis eradication. In the unfortunate circumstance of a worker contracting covid-19 the dairy industry is drawing up rules about how the problem should be managed. High country stations and farms earning a lot of income from tourists are wondering how long before that side of their business returns.
Pork processors to take heat off excess pig problem
Processors such as Hellers, which normally import pork to make bacon, ham and salami will slow the trade to take domestic meat and head off the prospect of thousands of pigs being slaughtered on farms.
Farmers face up to six weeks’ wait for processor
Meat companies Silver Fern Farms and Alliance have waiting times of three to six weeks for livestock processing as farmers try to avoid congestion or are running into a feed shortfall. On the plus side markets are generally holding up with the hardest hit some Mediterranean countries and the United States, which uses New Zealand beef in hamburger meat.
Demand for fruit and veg stores to open
Independent fresh produce stores make about 20% of retail sales but are classed as non-essential. HortNZ is in talks with the Government to re-open some, especially in areas where there are no supermarkets.
Mycoplasma bovis programme still a priority
The eradication programme is an essential service though adaptations have to be made in the light of covid-19. They include case managers not going on farms unless necessary and new processes developed for sampling on farms. Stuart Anderson is the new man in charge of the programme, replacing Geoff Gwyn.
Managing a covid-19 case on a dairy farm
Advice for farmers is on its way in the instance of a farmer or worker being infected. An owner and the dairy company have to be told if there is a case but milk can be still collected as normal.
High country stations face fresh challenges
Canterbury high-country farmer Hamish Guild says he has lost 35% of annual revenue immediately because High Peak Station is highly geared for tourism. His is not the only farming operation in a similar plight and there’s no telling how long it will last.
Tonight on Sarah's Country:
The Poll: Do you think Fieldays should withhold site fees from exhibitors until the end of the year?
7.10pm – Market update with AgriHQ sheep and beef analyst Mel Croad who says a lack of processing capacity and the shutdown of the sale yards will have a long-term effect on prices and stock levels.
7.20pm – AbacusBio agriculture consultant Jonah Duckles on how the lockdown is showing the industry a new norm on how to run workshops that's more time efficient and expands knowledge transfer.
7.30pm – Will to Live founder Elle Perriam on how to manage stress in isolation and the change in attitudes to mental wellbeing over the past year.
7.40pm – Hawke’s Bay Rural Advisory Group co-chairman Lochie MacGillivray updates us on the perfect storm affecting Hawke’s Bay farmers.
