Co-op boosts chilled exports to China
Alliance Group has secured greater access for chilled beef exports to China, following approval for two of its processing plants to supply the market.
One of New Zealand's fastest females on a bike, 2011 Supercross World Cup Champion, Sarah Walker, will judge the 2012 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Ltd Golden Lamb Awards (aka the Glammies) in Wanaka on March 9.
The competition, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Genetics, aims to find the best lamb New Zealand farmers and retailers have to offer.
A record number of entries have set a precedent this year. Nearly 150 entrants are eagerly waiting to hear if they are one of the 20 finalists going through to the ultimate taste test at the grand final held at the Upper Clutha A & P Show on March 9.
Walker says she is looking forward to judging the awards, especially as it gives her the opportunity to taste plenty of a favourite food.
"I can't wait to sample some of New Zealand's most raved about product, it's a privilege," says Walker, who is currently training hard for the London Olympics later this year.
She will join head judge, Invercargill chef, Graham Hawkes and 2012 Beef + Lamb New Zealand ambassador chef and executive chef at The True South Dining Room, Queenstown, Ben Batterbury.
The competition is supported by processing plants across the country including: Alliance, Ashburton Meat Processors, Auckland Meat Processors, Blue Sky Meats (NZ) Ltd, Cabernet Foods, Harris Meats, Land Meat NZ Ltd, Silver Fern Farms, Taylor Preston and Wilson Hellaby.
A move is underway to make the Wellington bureaucracy speed up the approval process for certain agrichemicals that farmers and growers are desperate to get their hands on.
The new majority owner of meat company Alliance has no plans to close any processing plants. Instead, Dawn Meats plans to extract more value from Alliance's existing footprint.
Westpac NZ has announced new initiatives that aim to give customers more options to do their banking in person.
New Zealand red meat exports experienced a 29% increase year-on-year in September, according to the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.
BNZ says its new initiative, helping make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier, is being well received by customers and rural professionals.