China trade delivers 'tangible benefits'
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
MANY SHEEP and beef farmers will need to arrange bank help to carry them through the drought, says Professor Keith Woodford, Lincoln University.
Woodford, professor of farm management and agribusiness, expects lambing percentages will be right down next season as a result of the drought.
“We’ve known for long time three things are really important to lambing percentage: one is genetics and there’s no doubt we have better genetics; second is the live weight of ewes at mating; third is whether the ewes are on a rising plain of nutrition.
“So if the ewe is gaining live weight at the time she’s mated then she’s much more likely to give a multiple ovulation. I can’t put numbers on it at this stage…. I would expect the lambing percentage in August-September to be down quite a lot. Having said that, the rams aren’t there yet and a lot depends on what happens over the next month.”
Looking at our sheepmeat markets, Woodford says if wasn’t for China, New Zealand would be in a mess. The Kiwi dollar’s strength against the Euro and the pound sterling is impacting farms, depressing returns to New Zealand farmers from European markets.
“[But the] sheepmeat market in China has been growing incredibly rapidly, more due to good luck than good management on our part; it’s not demand we’ve created, it’s a demand the Chinese have created.”
Woodford says China by volume is now our biggest market for lamb – a market for cuts once a bit difficult to sell.
China’s Ambassador Wang Xiaolong says bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and New Zealand has made significant and rapid progress.
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.