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.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) chair John Loughlin says he is concerned about the “expedient politicking” that went on during the recent election campaign.
Loughlin told Rural News his impression of the election campaign was of some parties trying to advance their constituency of urban voters essentially by taking a very hard line on rural issues.
This had the effect of driving a wedge between the two sectors, he says.
“In some respects it went to extremes during the course of the election and that is unhelpful to what New Zealand needs. Essentially NZ is a highly urbanised society in terms of its population, but we have massive economic reliance on the rural sector so both sectors have to co-exist intelligently.”
Loughlin believes the rural sector has a lot of work to do to correct people’s incorrect perceptions. But he also acknowledges there are issues the rural sector must work on.
“NZ has become the only major OECD country where the population has become highly urbanised but still relies very heavily on the rural sector for its export earnings,” he said.
“Over time, people from the urban sector have lost understanding about the realities of farming and the realities of rural life. Also, in farming areas and urban areas there has been degradation of rivers. People in the cities expect to come to the country and find pristine rivers and in some cases they are not up to what they should be.”
Loughlin says the rural sector must embark on a big communication exercise, but also change position on some subjects.
Fonterra has cemented its position as the country’s number one cheesemaker by picking up nine NZ Champion of Cheese trophies this year.
New Zealand dairy processors are welcoming the Government’s commitment to continuing to push for Canada to honour its trade commitments.
An educational programme, set up by Beef + Land New Zealand, to connect farmers virtually with primary and intermediate school students has reported the successful completion of its second year.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has welcomed a resolution adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to declare 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.
Waikato herd health veterinarian Katrina Roberts is the 2024 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Horticulture NZ chief executive Nadine Tunley will step down in August.