Sheep farmers desperately looking for a lift in lamb prices this coming season may be in for more disappointment, according to Alliance Group chairman Murray Taggart.

Dairy farmers are being urged to review their breeding strategies for the upcoming mating season to get benefits gained by the breeding of low BW cows to proven beef sires.

Minister of Trade Todd McClay says he is encouraged by prospects for New Zealand’s beef and horticultural exports to Indonesia following a meeting with his counterpart in Jakarta.

AgResearch has been awarded $4.25m in funding to develop sensors which will accurately measure the quality of export beef, lamb and venison in order to enhance consumer confidence in New Zealand’s meat.

New Zealand farmer confidence in the agricultural economy has risen for the second consecutive quarter and is now at its highest level since 2013, the latest Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey has shown.

Landcorp has worked hard to develop its strategy but for two-three years will remain exposed to commodity movements, says chief executive Steven Carden.

The honey bee is causing land values to shoot up in 'manuka-friendly' regions.

Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie says uncertainty in the EU as a result of Brexit is one of the causes of a higher exchange rate.

Local meat processor Blue Sky Meats (BSM) has reported a $2 million loss, blaming it on bad timing.

International food commodity prices shot up 4.2% in June, their steepest monthly increase of the past four years.