Big ag census coming to an end
Farmers, foresters and orchardists have just a few days left to complete the official agricultural production census, run by Statistics NZ in partnership with MPI.
Milk powder rose $48 million in value in January 2017, despite the quantity exported falling by around 19,000 tonnes or 9.4%, Statistics New Zealand says.
Milk powder, which made up 56% of the milk powder, butter, and cheese commodity group in January 2017, more than offset lower sales for other goods, leaving overall exports up 0.3% or $13 million.
When compared to the same period of the previous year, milk powder exports have risen in the last four months, after generally falling since September 2009.
“The recent rises in the value of dairy shows exporters are getting a better price for their milk powder exports than they were at this time last year,” international statistics senior manager Daria Kwon said.
“The fall in milk powder quantity this month reflects this, with exporters getting more value for less product.”
China continues to be our top destination for milk powder exports, accounting for 32% of milk powder exports in January 2017, followed by the United Arab Emirates, which accounted for 7.6%.
Crude oil, meat, and fruit all rose in January 2017. These rises were partly offset by falls in other commodities, such as casein, wool, and logs.
The trade balance for January 2017 was a deficit of $285 million. Excluding crude oil exports and imports, the deficit was $36 million.
The country’s 4200 commercial fruit and vegetable growers will vote from May 14 on a new HortNZ levy.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
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