Farmgate prices lifted in the North Island last week with procurement competition heating up as the kill continues to fall.

ABOUT 20 calls a day are being received by the Waikato Rural Support Trust, mostly from young farmers concerned about their financial position.

THE 2013 year started with reasonable optimism. Dairy production was tracking nicely and dairy prices took off. For sheep there was hope that new Asian demand for lamb and wool would bring a move in the right direction. Meanwhile, the US drought last year meant demand for our beef, grains and produce were looking healthy. 

DROUGHT BEHAVIOUR renders deeply questionable the concept of co-operative companies being for the benefit and fair treatment of shareholders.

The weekly New Zealand cattle kill continues to run at just over 80,000 head. This is 33% above average for this time of year and is also higher than usual peak kill levels.

COW HEALTH and contentment are important in a Queensland dairy farm positioning itself in the public eye. And the farmer, Greg Dennis, reckons he also gets a bottom line reward because his happy cows are more productive. 

ASB is showing “corporate responsibility” by offering a rural environmental compliance loan at low cost, says ASB general manager rural Mark Heer.

Cattle continue to pour out for slaughter with cows leading the charge. Some companies continue to focus heavily on killing cows with less space being allocated for steer or bull.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has classified Northland's 2013 drought as a medium-scale adverse event, triggering assistance measures delivered through the Rural Support Trust.

Farmgate prices for works cattle were still under some downward pressure this week with big numbers of dairy cows coming forward for slaughter.