Farmgate prices for beef are heading south at present in both the North and the South Islands.

THE OUTLOOK for lamb right now is tenuous, according to Beef + Lamb NZ chairman Mike Petersen.

THE APPARENT lack of a real ‘spring’ has triggered rapidly developing drought conditions in many parts of Hawkes Bay and the North Island East Coast.

Any increase in farmer confidence comes from the dairy sector and even that is off a low base. That is one of Federated Farmers' conclusions from its 2012/13 Mid-Season Farm Confidence Survey.

Rabobank has welcomed the red meat sector collaboration between industry and government to enhance the long-term profitability of New Zealand's beef and lamb industries.

The Red Meat sector will get $32 million in PGP funding for a collaborative programme to push for the adoption of best practice by sheep and beef farmers.

UNFAVOURBALE WEATHER is piling further pressure on sheep farmers grappling with low lamb prices.

Lamb producers could learn from New Zealand tourism by targeting top-end Chinese markets, says Westpac economist Nathan Penny.

For the most part, 2013’s economic themes for the rural sector are looking generally positive.

The first bit of good news to emerge in 2013 is that the Ministry for Primary Industry is going to live up to its new name and to start taking a leadership role in the primary sector. Federated Farmers – and others – will be pleased to see MPI’s aiming to be a Ministry FOR, not OF Primary Industry.