Hawke's Bay to the world
Rockit chief executive Mark O'Donnell says consumer awareness for the brand continues to improve each year.
Dairy products led a rise in total exports in October, but meat and offal exports were down from the same month last year, Statistics New Zealand says.
In October 2016, total goods exports rose $85 million (2.2%). Dairy exports rose $122 million (13%) to $1.1 billion. Butter rose $61 million (29%) and milk powder rose $57 million (12%).
“We exported more butter for a higher price this month than October last year,” international statistics manager Jason Attewell says. “We also exported more milk powder, but prices were similar.”
In October, meat and edible offal exports, our second-largest export commodity group, fell $71 million (18 percent) from October 2015. Beef and lamb exports to the key market of China were down.
Other significant commodity group changes were forestry products, up $74 million (25%), and fruit, up $42 million (40%), led by kiwifruit (up $33 million).
The monthly trade balance was a deficit of $846 million (22% of exports). Excluding one-off imports, the monthly trade deficit was $592 million.
For the year ended October 2016, the annual trade deficit was $3.3 billion.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.