NZ agribusinesses urged to embrace China’s e-commerce and innovation boom
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat processor Silver Fern Farms is being forced to divert product away from China as coronavirus ravages its biggest market.
Read: Coronavirus starting to impact meat processing.
SFF chief executive Simon Limmer says it is working with its Chinese partners to monitor the situation on a daily basis.
“We are diverting product to other markets….while short-term these markets deliver lower value returns, and will unfortunately have an impact on upcoming livestock pricing, it will enable us to maintain our ability to process stock.
“While beef and lamb items can be diverted, we have very limited market options for mutton with China the main global market for mutton.”
SFF is reducing mutton processing at its plants from next week and says it recognises the impact of its decision on NZ farmers.
“During peak production and with limited feed availability, the timing of this event is challenging and processing continuity is important,” Limmer says.
He is urging farmers to talk to their SFF representatives for more information.
Federated Farmers says the final report into banking competition is a significant step forward for rural New Zealand - and a vindication of the farming sector's concern.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride expects a strong mandate from farmers shareholders for the proposed sale of its consumer and related businesses to Lactalis for $3.8 billion.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the sale of the co-op’s consumer and associated businesses to Lactalis represents a great outcome for the co-op.
The world’s largest milk company Lactalis has won the bid for Fonterra’s global consumer and associated businesses.
Fonterra has increased its 2024/25 forecast Farmgate Milk Price from $10/kgMS to $10.15/kgMS.
It took a stint at university to remind Otago dairy farmer Megan Morrison that being stuck in a classroom was not for her.