Red meat industry hails new migrant visa rules as win for jobs and exports
New Zealand's red meat processing and exporting sector has welcomed the government's announcement of new work visas.
New Zealand red meat exports remained steady in April with a total of $863 million worth of meat and co-products exported to global markets.
According to analysis from the Meat Industry Association (MIA), the overall April export figures show an increase on April 2020 levels.
"We are seeing healthy signs that trade is returning to more regular pre-COVID 19 patterns alongside the ongoing strong demand from China as African Swine Fever drives a growing demand for protein such as beef and lamb," says MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva.
There were significant increases in the value of exports of chilled meat in April 2021 compared to April 2020, with sheepmeat up 20% to $65 million and beef up 48% to $45 million.
"These levels are similar to the pre-COVID-19 levels of April 2019, indicating that some of the pandemic-related disruptions that saw a reasonably large drop in chilled exports in April 2020 are starting to resolve," Karapeeva adds.
However, while meat exports were steady compared to a year ago, the current supply chain disruptions continue to put significant strain on all exporters, including the meat industry.
"Along with irregular shipping services and unreliable timetables, there's pressure on cold storage facilities and container parks. All of this means costs are rising at every stage of the supply chain.
"These issues have been raised with the Government by the Council of Cargo Owners, which represents the interests of New Zealand exporters and importers and we're seeking discussions around an urgent solution."
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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