Top wool advocate bales out
The conversion of productive farmland into trees has pretty much annihilated the wool industry.
Drought has contributed to New Zealand’s sheep flock falling over the past year.
The total number of sheep in New Zealand decreased 2.3% over the past year to 26.21 million, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ)’s annual stock number survey.
Supplementary feed usage increased accordingly, as farmers used expensive feed in order to maintain the condition of their livestock.
COVID-19 also reduced demand for stock as international trade was disrupted, sale yards were unable to operate, and processing capacity was restricted under social distancing requirements, causing delays of up to six weeks.
The lamb crop is expected to be 4.2% lower nationally.
B+LNZ economic service chief economist Andrew Burtt says that drought meant that farmers decided to have fewer hoggets, weaner cattle, and cows mated, which will have impacts on future stock numbers.
“The impact of the combined decisions to destock younger animals this year will be fewer stock in future years,” said Burtt.
“Capital breeding stock may have been retained this year, but the effects of the disruption in 2019-20 will be felt for at least a couple of years.”
Total sheep have declined from 57.85 million in June 1990 to 26.21 million in June 2020.
The full stock survey is available here.
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.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.