Green but not much grass!
Dairy farmers in the lower North Island are working on protecting next season, according to Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who farms just north of the Horowhenua township of Levin.
Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre, who sharemilks in the Horowhenua, says the past year has not been easy.
He says interest rates, rising costs and a lower milk price is stretching farmers' budgets to the limit. He says the first six months of this season were terrible, but a good summer and autumn have seen things pick up. He says getting maize planted was a challenge but says the yield appears to be good, despite the late planting.
McIntyre was one of a few farmers who took a punt and spent extra money and bought supplement specifically to get his cows in good condition for mating and this has worked out well for him. But for him and others, the shortage of skilled labour remains a big problem and one that is not just confined to the farm.
"A lot of our support industries are also short staffed, for example, the people who service tractors. Some are a little less experienced than in the past and so things aren't running efficiently on farm because it's hard to get your tractors fixed. It costs more to do it and it takes longer because there is a shortage of mechanics," he says.
McIntyre says farmers are also concerned about killing space at the works, not only for cull cows but also bobby calves.
Farmer-led charity, Meat the Need is calling for donations to enable it to supply more meals to families in need.
Weaker pricing and demand from China continue to impact New Zealand red meat export earnings.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.
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