Beef + Lamb NZ has decided to go ahead with proposed increases in sheepmeat and beef levies.

Keytone Dairy, a Christchurch-based manufacturer, packer and exporter of powdered dairy products, has listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) as it raises capital for a major expansion of its Canterbury manufacturing operation.

Farmers in Northern Europe – especially the UK and Ireland – are facing a crisis as drought forces them to sell stock early while they struggle to adequately feed animals remaining. 

New Zealand’s sheep flock now seems to be stabilising, says Beef+Lamb NZ chief economist Andrew Burtt.

Lamb prices are likely to flatten off a little, but stay pretty much towards current levels, says Beef+Lamb chief economist Andrew Burtt.

After 38 years, the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme in New Zealand had its first member of the wine industry involved last year. Since then another two members of Marlborough’s wine industry have taken part.

Some positive news for the red meat sector; NZ’s beef cattle herd is growing and the decline in the sheep flock has slowed, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ)

Life insurance provider Fidelity Life says its special relief offer will help farmers deal with the financial impact of Mycoplasma bovis.

Rural real estate sales in autumn this year were down on both the number of sales and price per hectare versus the same period last year. 

Concerns about the impact of Mycoplasma bovis on the agriculture sector have seen New Zealand farmer confidence decline over the past quarter, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey shows.