The North Island cow kill has still yet to find its feet. This continues to help support beef schedule prices which continue to hold fairly steady. Returning to a full kill week a fortnight ago, the kill increased slightly from the shorter Easter weeks but was still struggling to match levels seen at this time of the year. Just over 21,000 cows were slaughtered the week ending April 21st, down on the usual 27,000/wk for this time of the season.

50-56% of all the beef eaten in the US was in ground beef form last year. US veteran economist and agribusiness consultant Bill Helming forecasts that will lift to 65% by or before 2030 as the percentage of beef consumed in whole muscle form declines.

Jo Bills After a long period of relative stability, helped in part by increased frequency of auctions, it has been an action-packed month for the GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) platform.

FARMER CONFIDENCE is waning amid price drops and a high New Zealand dollar, two surveys in the last week indicate.

DON’T LET ample pasture now lull you into a false sense of security with winter just round the corner, says farm management systems firm Farmax.

DAIRY PROCESSORS are pouring millions of dollars into infrastructure in Tasmania and irrigation systems are opening up new dairying opportunities…now more farmers are needed to take advantage of this growth.

THE 9.9% drop at last week’s Global Dairy Trade auction has jolted farmers but they have vowed to carry on.

DAVE BUICK is a sheep and beef farmer from Pongaroa, running 2000 stock units on steep hill country. But he's also a shearer with his own gang of ten.

LAMB FLAPS are paving the way for sales of better cuts and beef to China and elsewhere in Asia, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

Landcorp Farming has announced a six-month net operating profit of $11 million and expects to reach more than $20 million for the full year.