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Total registered hives last year amounted to 924,973 with 9217 registered beekeepers;
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$5 billion of NZ’s economy is attributable to pollination by honey bees, domestic honey sales and exports, beeswax and exported honey bees.
Companies profit from online move
Food and beverage companies that have switched their emphasis to a direct-to-consumer approach and a targeted digital strategy have come out in good shape through the covid crisis, a FoodHQ survey shows.
Coal humates good for pasture
The humates found in low-quality coal boost pasture growth significantly, a five-year study done in Southland has revealed. Initial research also shows they might also reduce nitrogen leaching.
Red meat weathers storm
New Zealand’s red meat industry has a number of factors on its side, according to Rabobank – a softening NZ dollar, the ability of the industry to shift supply quickly, the impact of African swine fever in China and globally tight supplies of lamb.
Dairy price recovery tipped for 2021
Rabobank predicts that while dairy prices might rebound next year they will not compensate for the hit the global economy is taking this year. It forecasts a farmgate price of $5.60/kg of milksolids in 2021.
Prices inch up at Global Dairy Auction
Prices were up for skim milk powder, anhydrous milk fat and lactose but fell for butter, cheddar, rennet casein and whole milk powder.
Tonight on Sarah’s Country
7.10pm – Despite the chaos and uncertainty during the covid-19 lockdown most food and beverage firms are optimistic about the next year FoodHQ chief executive Abby Thompson says.
7.20pm – Sarah talks to Act Party leader David Seymour about agriculture’s place in the nation’s economic recovery and the National Party’s leadership battle.
7.30pm – NZ has a once in 100-year chance to completely overhaul the way we think about the bountiful, delicious food we produce. NZ food and wine writer Lauraine Jacobs is pushing for a Ministry of Food with a tangible strategy.
7.40pm – How do we tame the wicked problems facing our rural leaders? 2019 Nuffield Scholar Ben Hancock joins the show to go over his report on how to grow the toolbox to foster society’s trust.
