Quota allocations suggest change in balance of industry power

The release of the 2016 quota allocation which Alan Williams analysed in detail (Farmers Weekly 11^th January) show some considerable shifts in tonnage entitlements between the major meat exporters. The quota is allocated as a percentage of the total allowable quota for shipment to the EU for sheepmeat and USA for beef during a calendar year; in the last two years New Zealand has only filled around 75% of the EU quota and 90% and 98% of the USA beef quota.

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Cooperatives and private companies work best in agriculture

Good company performance demands clarity of purpose which is defined and monitored by a board of directors elected or appointed by the shareholders. There are five main types of company ownership structure that are or have been represented in New Zealand’s agricultural sector and each has advantages and disadvantages.

Longer season and drought affect Silver Ferns’ banking headroom

Silver Fern Farms have been forced to take what CEO Dean Hamilton calls a prudent approach to livestock procurement. This is code for being hard up against the company’s banking facility, directly as a result of greater livestock availability. A longer season in the North Island and pressure from drought in North Canterbury are responsible for this situation.

Silver Fern Farms addresses the case for industry consolidation

EoinGarden, SFF’s chairman, has sent an open letter to farmers on behalf of the cooperative’s board of directors concluding with the challenge “it’s really up to us as farmers.”

Meat Workers Union corrected accounts present very different picture

At last, a year after I started my efforts to discover the true state of the Union’s finances, the consolidated accounts have been posted on the Incorporated Societies’ website. In contrast to the original set of accounts which showed the national office as having net assets of less than $1 million, the true picture incorporating all the branches shows net assets of over $5 million.

AFFCO’s union dispute finally settled

It’s been a long 10 weeks, both for the company and especially the workforce. At last both sides have exercised some flexibility and reached agreement on a new Core Collective Agreement.

Wasted trip to Nelson

If ever there was a wasted journey, it’s the one AFFCO meat workers have made to Nelson with the sole objective of asking the Talleys to listen to their tales of woe arising from the lock out and regular strikes which have seen several hundred workers out of work for nearly two months.

Get real about where the money comes from

There’s a lot of noise around about the lack of equity available to invest in New Zealand agribusiness companies.