US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef
Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.
OPINION: Beef+Lamb NZ has run a roadshow to sell its new strategy.
Thirty meetings, which a total of just 400 farmers attended – barely a baker’s dozen per meeting.
Given that there are some 23,400 sheep & beef farms in NZ (BLNZ Farm Facts 2021) the low turnout suggests a huge wave of apathy afflicting B+LNZ’s funders.
The roadshow followed the 2024 AGM which featured a poorly-timed attempt to hike directors’ fees and one of the worst-ever voter turnouts at just 12%.
At the time, chair Kate Acland blamed farmers’ busy schedules, ‘divisive’ social media and climate change remits for the low turnout.
What’s the excuse this time?
On top of the cost of the roadshow, B+LNZ spent a fortune promoting it.
The Hound humbly suggests the ‘no show’ suggests they’d already lost the room.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.
Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines, boosting capacity to meet growing international demand.

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