Biosecurity award for M. bovis work
A small company which mobilised veterinarians around the country to deal with Mycoplasma bovis was one of the winners in this year's Biosecurity Awards, held at Parliament.
Total primary sector export revenue for the year to June 2013 is forecast to be around $27.5 billion, down 5% on the previous year's income ($29.2 billion), says the Ministry for Primary Industries.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has released a half-year update to the annual Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries report, which it published in June.
The deteriorating global economic conditions are having a significant impact on returns for New Zealand's primary products, MPI says.
The update shows there has been strong pastoral production so far in the 2012/13 season. "This is partly due to favourable climatic conditions during the previous season which left breeding stock in good condition, and also ongoing expansion of the dairy herd," says Chris Jones, the manager of Economic Information and Analysis for MPI Sector Policy.
However, MPI reports the continuing economic slowdown, particularly in the traditional markets of the European Union, is causing weaker demand for some New Zealand products such as lamb.
And the strengthening of the New Zealand dollar against most major trading currencies in recent months is having a dampening effect on farm-gate returns for primary produce.
Key points for the main sectors:
• International dairy prices are expected to recover over the remainder of the 2012/13 dairy season and beyond.
• Lower lamb prices are expected, resulting from weaker demand in key European markets.
• Beef prices are expected to remain firm over the next two years, following a major drought in North America affecting production there.
• The forestry sector will remain squeezed over the next few years, due to subdued demand from major export markets – export volumes are expected to hold up, but some product prices will not.
• Horticultural exports are on track to reach $3.5 billion in export earnings in the year to March 2013, with higher in-market prices expected to offset lower volumes of kiwifruit and wine.
• The bacterial vine-killing disease Psa-V has spread to nearly all kiwifruit growing regions, and will adversely impact gold kiwifruit exports in the year to March 2014.
Animal rights organization, SAFE says the government needs to maintain the ban on live exports.
New findings from not-for-profit food supply and distribution organization, the New Zealand Food Network (NZFN) have revealed a 42% increase in demand for food support in 2023 compared to 2022.
New data released by LIC and DairyNZ shows New Zealand dairy farmers have achieved the highest six week in-calf rate and lowest notin- calf rate on record.
Christchurch City Council and the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have signed an agreement which will open more of Canterbury Agricultural Park for public use while helping to provide long-term certainty for the A&P Show.
This year’s Fieldays will feature a Rural Advocacy Hub - bringing together various rural organisations who are advocating for farmers and championing their interests as one team, under one roof, for the first time.
ASB head of rural banking Aidan Gent is encouraging farmers to speak to their banks when they are struggling.
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