Nobody welcomes extra costs but if OSPRI is to catch-up on under investment in the NAIT platform and deliver on its workability and farmer support, levy increases are probably necessary, Federated Farmers says. OSPRI is consulting on proposals to increase the NAIT tag levy from 90 cents to $1.35 and the slaughter levy from 50 […]
Agri Business
Economic Week – January 14
by Nick Clark, Group Manager National Policy Happy New Year and welcome back. Here is Feds’ first economic update for 2022. Plenty in it as it’s been four weeks since our last one for 2021. Banking Survey Just before Christmas we released results from our November 2021 Banking Survey. Overall, they were relatively positive, with […]
Report trumpets scope for ice cream exports
Latest research into our premium ice cream industry suggests exporters could find new buyers in valuable overseas markets as consumers increasingly look for tip top quality in food. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash has released a new report for the Food and Beverage Information Project. The project is run by government agencies MBIE, MPI and […]
Feds survey shows slight uptick in farmer-bank relationship
Farmers are feeling slightly more satisfied with the relationships with their banks but interest rates are starting to rise and some are reporting a tougher attitude from lenders. Results from the November Federated Farmers Banking Survey show 67 percent of the more than 900 respondents are satisfied with their bank relationship, up 5.5 points on […]
High-tech investment extends drought forecasting for farmers and growers
The Government is investing in the development of a new forecasting tool that makes full use of innovative climate modelling to help farmers and growers prepare for dry conditions.. The new approach, which will cost $200,000 and is being jointly funded through the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and National Institute of Water and Atmospheric […]
Economic Week – 17 December
by Nick Clark, Manager National Policy A bumper issue this week with a flood of economic data. This will be my last economic update for the year. It’ll be back in the New Year. In the meantime, I wish readers a happy and relaxing Christmas and holiday period – and a prosperous 2022. GDP falls […]
New Zealand food and fibre exports forecast to hit a record $50.8 billion
Food and fibre export revenue is projected to surge to a record $50.8 billion in the year to 30 June 2022 – an increase of 6 percent over the previous year. “This is the first time New Zealand’s annual food and fibre export revenue will crack $50 billion – a result we should all be […]
Govt urged to heed the facts and save the live export trade
The government deserves the kudos and international recognition it has gained for its facts-driven stance on handling COVID-19. Federated Farmers has asked it to take the same approach on the future of livestock exports. Submissions on the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill, which would legislate an end to livestock exports from New Zealand, closed earlier this […]
B+LNZ elected to board of prestigious global sustainable beef organisation
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has been elected to the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB). The GRSB was established to advance the continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain. B+LNZ, which will sit on the board for a two year-term from next year, was nominated by the National Cattlemen’s Beef […]
Hugh winds up herbage seedgrowers role with industry in fine fettle
Hugh Wigley says it’s satisfying to end his 15-year stint as Chairperson of the Federated Farmers Herbage Seedgrowers Subsection at a time when the industry is on a high. “Currently we’re looking at the highest returns I’ve seen in my time in farming. “The SIRC (Seed Industry Research Council) and the NZ Seeds Authority (NZSA) […]