Strong dollar crippling farmer returns

Livestock prices are out of line with the market at the moment and some farmers are taking advantage of present schedules to get stock away before the inevitable drop happens. This situation applies to lamb and beef at the only time of year when the local trade traditionally has more influence than export on what farmers receive, but there are signs of price drops across the board in the last couple of weeks.

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Referendum result big challenge for Meat and Wool NZ

A voter turnout of 39% and a narrow majority for continued industry good investment in beef and sheepmeat, but no mandate for further wool and goat expenditure, isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of M&WNZ’s final proposal to its members. Less than 8,000 out of a maximum of 20,000 levy payers actually bothered to vote in the referendum, while the 68 consultation meetings held by M&WNZ directors round the country attracted about 2,000 farmers, 10% of the total number of levy payers.