increase font size
Ag Minister Damien O’Connor.
Following a new economic report, Ag Minister Damien O’Connor is celebrating primary industries’ role in the COVID-19 recovery.
His reaction follows a new report by the Ministry for Primary Industries, revealing that primary sector exports are on track to grow by $1.7 billion (4.5%) on last year.
The report Economic Update for the Primary Industries was released today in in lieu of the June 2020 edition of the Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI).
“Overseas consumers are now more than ever looking for healthy, New Zealand-made food. We’ve seen that with the sustained demand for fresh fruit, particularly in Europe and North America and the strong demand for red meat in China,” says O’Connor.
“Our farmers and growers are in a strong position to help us reboot our economy. Along with the sector, the Government is focused on creating more demand, pursuing greater market opportunities to generate higher export returns and growing rural communities with new jobs.
The report reveals that dairy exports were particularly strong since the start of March, up $512 million (12%) compared to the same time last year.
The report also reveals that Chinese meat imports surged in the second half of 2019. The animal protein shortage, due to the African swine fever outbreak in China, is expected to help support prices and demand over the next year.
There was a strong start to the season for apple and kiwifruit exporters with revenue up $274 million (18%) on last year since the start of March.
Forestry Minister Shane Jones says that during the level 4 COVID-19 restrictions, forestry and wood processing was not considered an essential service, so the decrease in outputs was in line with what was expected.
“This has been an incredibly challenging time for the sector and there is still considerable volatility in the log export sector, which the Government is closely monitoring. However, I am confident forestry and wood processing figures will improve over the coming months and that this multibillion-dollar sector will play a significant role in the economic recovery”.
The full report is available here.
The recent East Coast Farming Expo, held over two days at Wairoa, offered an insight into the current state of agriculture on the east of the North Island, at a time when the locals are remembering the second anniversary of Cyclone Gabrielle.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
An initiative by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to connect farmers with scientists is taking off judging by the response at recent regional field days.
Scientists from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) are part of an international team working to develop a low-cost diagnostic tool that could significantly improve food crop production in developing countries.
OPINION: Shane 'Matua' Jones, crusader against all things woke, including "woke banks", couldn't have scripted it better when his NZ First colleague Andy Foster had his Members' Bill drawn from the ballot recently.
Rural retailer Farmlands has launched a new casual clothing range available across 42 stores nationwide and through its online store.
Federated Farmers says the health and safety changes announced this week by the Government represent the start of overdue reforms.
The Government is calling on rural New Zealanders to share their views on proposed regulations designed to improve the management of farm plastic waste.
For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.
After tasting 240 New Zealand made cheeses, judges have bestowed medals upon 199 of the entries.
Bay of Plenty’s top share farmers Andre and Natalie Meier are no strangers to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winning circle.
OPINION: At last, a serious effort to better connect farmers and scientists.
OPINION: If you believe Maori Party president John Tamihere’s claim that “nothing dodgy” occurred at Manurewa Marae during the last…
