No easy ride for struggling sheep farmers
Stubbornly high farm input costs, a slow Chinese recovery and a flood of Australian lamb onto the global market are the main factors contributing to the tough times being faced by NZ's sheep farmers.
The Meat Industry Association (MIA) and Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) say they welcome China’s formal application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, says the application is an exciting and important development as New Zealand looks to trade to drive its economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Closer regional integration that includes such an important trading partner like China will allow New Zealand red meat companies to leverage supply chains and deepen their relationships with customers across this important region.”
Karapeeva says the CPTPP was conceived with a vision for deeper regional integration and a closer more connected trading block within the Asia Pacific.
“The broad interest in membership and China’s formal application to join the agreement demonstrates that the CPTPP is delivering on this ambition.”
B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor says the sector is supportive of new members who demonstrate a willingness and ability to meet the benchmark for high standards and ambition that the original members set for the CPTPP.
“The China-New Zealand FTA, and the recent upgrade, demonstrates the high quality and commitment to trade liberalisation that China is capable of and will be most welcome in a CPTPP context.
“Furthermore, the expansion of CPTPP is an important step in continuing to update and harmonise trade rules in the Asia-Pacific region. It sends an important message to the wider trade community, including the WTO, that trade rules continue to be important and there remains an appetite to expand these and build closer trade relationships.”
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
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