Will India ink a free trade agreement with NZ?
Beef+Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has welcomed the New Zealand Government's announcement that comprehensive free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations have formally commenced with India.
MPI director-general, Ray Smith believes the downturn actually bottomed out in about January, and since then says things have been on the improve but adds that every sector will have different trajectory or timeline as to when there will be an improvement.
He says the downturn has been short and sharp and hopes the recovery will be fast.
“Dairy will likely bounce back in a year, but it will take longer for meat and wool to get back to past levels,” he says Smith says for dairy, volatility may be the order of day but says there is a likely return to better farmgate pay outs with MPI predicting an $8.50 payout. He notes the problems the red meat sector is facing especially in China, but adds that the US meat market is currently very strong.
For Smith, horticulture is a rising star and says it has a lot going in its favour including consumer strong consumer demand for healthy foods such as kiwifruit. He says the apple and pear sector has recovered very well considering the devastation it suffered with Cyclone Gabrielle.
He says the other thing going for the horticultural sector is that it has the most balanced portfolio of consumer-friendly markets and is not reliant on one main market.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says it’s not been an easy year for the sector, but says his government is focused on backing farmers and growers and putting more money in their pockets so they can continue to adapt, evolve and innovate in the future. He says his government has already begun work on reducing the impact of Wellington bureaucrats on farming by cutting red tape and ensuring regulations are fit for purpose.
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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