Markets resilient, farmers hopeful
OPINION: The global dairy market continues to show resilience, and farmers remain cautiously optimistic as we move into the latter half of 2025.
A drop in fresh milk prices by 14% contributed to food prices falling by 1.3% in the year to December 2015, Statistics New Zealand says.
Lower prices for grocery foods in general also influenced the fall which is the largest since July 2012.
Grocery food prices decreased 3% over the year, led by lower prices for some dairy products, and for breads and cereals. Fresh milk prices were down 14% compared with the same period last year.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices decreased 3.8% over the year, led by lower prices for chicken. Chicken prices are now at their lowest level since January 2008.
"Chicken prices have fallen during the year, with the price for a kilo of chicken breast averaging $14.62 in December, compared with $16.60 a year ago," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh says.
Fruit and vegetable prices increased 2.4%, with higher prices for avocados and bananas.
In December food prices fell 0.8% influenced by lower prices for meat, poultry, and fish; and non-alcoholic beverages. Seasonally adjusted food prices fell 0.5%.
Meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 2.7% in the month, reflecting lower prices for chicken (down 6.2%).
"Prices rose for apples, avocados, and bananas in December," Haigh says. "Fruit prices were up 5.1%, although this rise was only 1.5% after adjusting for seasonal effects."
Phoebe Scherer, a technical manager from the Bay of Plenty, has won the 2025 Young Grower of the Year national title.
The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.
Award-winning boutique cheese company, Cranky Goat Ltd has gone into voluntary liquidation.
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
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