Meat industry performing well under Level 4

Processing is under severe constraints during the lockdown, although, as an essential service, meat companies are working hard to feed New Zealanders and service key export markets. In a newsletter to staff and suppliers, AFFCO states that processing restrictions on maintaining a minimum distance between employees means sheepmeat capacity is running at 50% of normal and beef capacity is close to 65%. This of course comes at the peak of the season, exacerbated by drought in several regions, particularly the top half of the North Island.

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Beef forecast to stay firm in face of market upheavals

Rabobank’s Quarter 2 Beef Quarterly paints a positive picture of global demand and prices for the rest of 2017 in spite, or more probably because, of a series of upheavals and changes affecting the world’s beef trade.

Come on John, give them a break!

The last time I dared to question MIE’s desired reform of the meat industry, John McCarthy accused me of bias and warned me to watch out, if we are unlucky enough to run into each other. So this column will almost certainly result in another attack on my character and more threats to my personal safety!

Outlook cloudy for 2013

As we head into the New Year, the Christmas break has provided an opportunity to consider how the meat industry is likely to pan out during 2013. But literally as I write this speculative opinion piece, the fate of the American economy is still uncertain – although the Senate approved a restructured deal on taxes and expenditure yesterday, Republican dominated Congress has yet again balked at reaching an acceptable conclusion.

Optimistic signs for coming season’s red meat trade

After some harrowing experiences last season for the meat industry, both processors and farmers, 12 months on things are looking up. This sense of optimism hasn’t yet been reflected in prices from the meat companies, but statements from those in the know strike a perceptibly more positive note.

Meat and dairy prices off their peak for now, but outlook positive

The recent fall in Fonterra’s GlobalDairyTrade on line auction for the fifth time in six months means global dairy prices have fallen by 9% since last May and by 24% over the season when adjusted for the value of theNew Zealanddollar. The dollar has only just come off historical highs against both theUKpound and the euro, so the combined effect on our dairy, beef and lamb exports has been disappointing to say the least.

Store stock keeps moving out of the north

I went to the Wellsford sale last Tuesday to get a first hand feel for how farmers are reacting to and coping with the dry weather in the north where the east coast is particularly dry. While the store market is running hot throughout the country, beef prices at Wellsford were closer to $1.85 per kilo for rising 3 year old steers, about 10 cents below the rest of the North Island. Part of the reason for this was most local farmers were there just to have a look, because they didn’t have enough grass to be buying any replacements until after it rains.