RWNZ chief executive to step down
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) chief executive Gabrielle O’Brien will step down at the end of June.
The US meat market is becoming something of a nightmare for NZ meat exporters with situations changing – in some cases – on a daily basis.
Beef+Lamb NZ chief executive Sam McIvor says globally the meat market is in a very fluid situation. He says while the Chinese market has picked up, the situation in the US remains challenging.
McIvor points to the fact that many meat processing plants in the US have closed down. A plant, which produces about 5% of pork in the US, is one of these – due to the fact that 300 staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, a large beef processing facility in Colorado has also closed down for the same reason and a US meat industry leader there says: “meat supply is perilously close to the edge”.
McIvor says the situation in America is tumultuous and unpredictable. He says the problems range from a lack of containers to problems at some ports and disruptions to supply chains.
“We still know the fundamental supply and demand is still good for red meat, it’s just how things change and operate in the short term.”
McIvor says NZ processors are doing a good job but will have to monitor and track their product carefully to ensure it gets to market. He says this will require agility.
Meat processor Alliance Group is asking farmer shareholders to inject more capital in order to remain a 100% co-operative.
A vet is calling for all animals to be vaccinated against a new strain of leptospirosis (lepto) discovered on New Zealand dairy farms in recent years.
Dairy
Rural banker Rabobank is partnering with Food Rescue Kitchen on a new TV series which airs this weekend that aims to shine a light on the real and growing issues of food waste, food poverty and social isolation in New Zealand.
Telco infrastructure provider Chorus says that it believes all Kiwis – particularly those in the rural areas – need access to high-speed, reliable broadband.
World Veterinary Day falls on Saturday 27 April.