US helps offset weak Chinese market
Red meat exports topped $932 million during February, with demand from the US helping to offset the weak Chinese market.
Major New Zealand meat and dairy exporters say they are taking cybersecurity seriously.
While no major New Zealand meat or dairy processor has reported cybersecurity breaches, the recent crippling attack on the world's largest meat processor JBS shows that companies need to be prepared.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says that while she can't comment specifically on the JBS situation, NZ's red meat industry takes the security of its systems extremely seriously.
"New Zealand's processing and exporting companies continue to invest in this area to ensure we are adequately prepared," Karapeeva told Rural News.
Fonterra chief information security officer Thomas Willig told Rural News that cybersecurity has become a common challenge for business globally.
"We have a cybersecurity strategy in place to minimise the likelihood of ransomware incidents, improve resiliency and mitigate negative impacts in the event of an attack."
Two weeks ago, JBS was forced to shutdown all its US beef plants, stalling output from facilities that supply almost a quarter of American supplies.
Dairy Companies of New Zealand (DCANZ) chief executive Kimberly Crewther says the increase in cyber crime is concerning for all businesses with the attacks on the Waikato District Health Board and JBS being just two examples.
She says dairy companies work individually with cyber security providers and DCANZ is not privy to the specifics of this engagement or individual company executives.
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.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.
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