Prime lamb production is on track to be the lowest on record, mainly because of the North Island’s drought last year.
B+LNZ says farmers are wary of regulations, the encroachment of forestry into sheep country and the prospect of more unpredictable weather.
There are reasons for optimism, though. Most regions have had some rain this past week and there are initial signs that the foodservice sector, shut down by covid-19 lockdowns throughout the world, is starting to wake up again.
That’s good news for the sector that relies on the high-value table cuts to extract maximum value.
Rabobank reckons the big rains in Australia might point to steady beef returns here as Aussie farmers, still rebuilding stocks, hold on.
And with China still buying up big as it faces another African swine fever scare, maybe that optimism will translate into returns.
Bryan Gibson
More than ticking boxes
Evan and Linda Potter say they were surprised to be named as the new national ambassadors for New Zealand sustainable farming and growing because the calibre of the other 2020 Ballance Farm Environment awards regional winners was so high.
Velvet tracking system ready to launch
A new electronic track and trace system for velvet is set to make life easier for deer farmers, while also providing proof of integrity from the farm to market.
Pay-as-you-go electric biking option
The numbers of electric farm bikes rounding up cows or traversing sheep country are likely to increase in coming months, thanks to funding for greater green vehicle uptake on farms.
Crofoot to stay on as FQC chair
Anders Crofoot has been re-elected chair of the Fertiliser Quality Council (FQC).
Domestic sales boost salmon recovery
New Zealand King Salmon has struggled with covid-19 sales disruptions and higher freight costs to declare a sharply reduced net profit for seven months of trading until January 31.
