Works prices for cattle in the North & South Islands have levelled off in the last two weeks. Only local trade prices moved upwards this week.

With the official cash rate due out on Thursday, farmer confidence at the beginning of the 2012-13 season has plummeted in Federated Farmers latest farm confidence survey.

Severe hot, dry conditions in the US is having a disastrous effect on crops and pasture.

New Zealand beef and dairy farmers can now take part in a programme to produce high-value marbled beef for premium markets, both domestically and offshore.

A "global dairy crisis" could be good for New Zealand dairy farmers, says Federated Farmers.

Grey clouds still hang over the global economy, says Rabobank in its July Agribusiness review for New Zealand and Australia.

The attached report contains the latest benchmark prices for lamb, beef and deer (works and store prices), as well as updates on the forces that influence these prices (including international market prices, exchange rates and local procurement issues).  

Over the past few weeks, US imported beef prices have dropped as a result of reduced demand for imported product.

FOOD PRICES have dropped in the course of the past year. Supermarket shoppers might question the evidence, but the mid-June data from Statistics NZ was clear: since last May the cost of the overall shopping basket has dropped by 0.2%. 

US retailers are chasing fresh domestic lean beef rather than frozen imported beef seeing many don't use imported beef in their formulations, partly because of labeling requirements.