News from New Zealand

Farmers relieved as Chinese meat embargo ends Federated Farmers says it is hugely relieved meat exports will be allowed back into China after an administrative error led to shipments being left at... NZ farmers seek trade relations with China after export delays The head of New Zealand's farm industry body said Wednesday that farmers are hoping to get the trade relationship with China running smoothly again af... Customers reassured NZ milk is safe The Ministry of Primary Industries has moved to reassure overseas consumers that New Zealand milk is safe after a Sri Lankan government minister warne... Agriculture extravaganza in Feilding Feilding's Manfeild Park has become a sort of one stop shop for beef and sheep farmers this week. Three farmer events that have been running for ye... Massey agriculture ranked 21st in world Massey University's agriculture programme has been rated among the world's best - coming in at 21, according to a major rankings company. The QS Wo... New Zealand - China Agricultural Agreement Signed Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has signed a Strategic Plan on Promoting Agricultural Cooperation between New Zealand and China today. T... Concerns For Sheep and Beef Farmer Viability Half of New Zealand’s sheep and beef farmers are worried about their ongoing viability as the impact of drought and a sharp fall in lamb prices over t... Algae and fish farm link prospects on global science agenda Some of the best scientific minds in the world will this week focus on exploring any potential link between harmful algal blooms and fish farms. Th... NZ given voice on world farming body Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills has been appointed to the board of a group which represents farmers from more than 50 countries. Wills will... Breakthrough at World Farming meeting in Japan New Zealand farming representatives say a significant trade breakthrough has been achieved at a World Farming Organisations' meeting in Japan. Fede... Delay in slaughter of TB-infected cattle Dairy cattle infected with bovine tuberculosis are still on Taranaki farms waiting for slaughter because there is no space for them at the freezing wo... Big dry shows risk of investing in agriculture Capital growth has always been an important factor in successful dairy farm investment, but it would be unwise for investors to assume land prices alw... New TB flare-up in dairy herds Taranaki is experiencing an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in dairy herds. New TB infections have just been found in three Taranaki dairy herds, t... Cattle to be slaughtered over TB outbreak The infected animals in four herds of cattle are set to be slaughtered, in an attempt to get rid of an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in Taranaki. ... Dairy trade feels heat of New Zealand drought In today's increasingly globalized dairy industry, events halfway around the world can profoundly impact U.S. milk producers and dairy processors. Tha... Dairy farmer slapped with $40k fine A Northland dairy farmer is "flabbergasted" by the $40,000 he's been fined for polluting a stream. But the region's environment watchdog says the d... Milk rout ending on worst NZ drought in 30 years Milk futures are poised to end their longest slump since 2008 in Chicago as drought reduces production in New Zealand, the largest exporter, forcing C... NZ rain boosts confidence Rain last week made farmers feel better. But the follow-up rain they were hoping for this week is not likely to happen. The next rain forecast for ... China food fears raise potential for NZ China's long-running food-safety scares and milk powder contamination problems have increased demand for reliable overseas supplies, creating sound in... Dairy prices soar but gloom ahead Westpac is warning that the country's milk production could drop for the first time in five years if drought conditions in the North Island continue. ... Fewer than 12 farmers sign for drought package Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says fewer than a dozen people have signed up for the Government's rural assistance package for drought relief.... Pig farmers lose pork import battle Pig farmers have failed in their legal bid to overturn a government decision allowing raw pork imports from countries with Porcine Reproductive and Re... Drought: Farmers smell their grass rotting Some Grey Valley farmers could smell the grass rotting in their browned paddocks this morning after the rain that brought some relief to the South Isl... Will rain this weekend end the drought? Rain is forecast to fall across most of the country over the weekend and early next week, but will it be enough to help drought-hit farmers? Federa... Drought impacts on cattle sales The three blokes who bought two pens of sheep for their freezer have achieved their task. A flurry of dust and spits of gravel lay in their wake as th... Bone dry and at breaking point Dave McGaveston does not mince words. It is, he says, his worst season in 40 years of farming. He has just returned from a meeting with his bank ma... Farmer has edge over drought As drought bites in the Waikato, Te Aroha dairy farmer Kevin White seems to have a secret for staving off panic. White has farmed for seven years a... Government issues warning to drought-ravaged farmers Farmers should know in a few days if Tropical Cyclone Sandra, forming off the coast of Australia, will bring some vital rain to parched New Zealand fa... Dairy giant gives $20m for wetlands Dairy giant Fonterra will provide a massive cash injection towards the fight to save the internationally recognised but threatened Waituna Lagoon in S... Manufacturing rises despite fall in meat and dairy Total manufacturing rose for December 2012, despite a small drop in meat and dairy product manufacturing, Statistics New Zealand said today. After ... Beef and sheep farm income under threat Low lamb prices and the ongoing drought are predicted to slash sheep and beef farm income this season. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's Economic Service m... Milk prices expected to rise as drought hits farmers hard Drought conditions across the North Island are threatening to hit consumers in the pocket. Northland was declared a drought-zone on February 27 and... NZ fears fuel jump in dairy prices to 21-month top Dairy prices rocketed to a 21-month high at GlobalDairyTrade, led by the biggest rise in whole milk powder since 2010, amid growing concerns over the ... Drought-stricken farmers sell stock Hawke's Bay farmers coping with one of the driest summers on record are desperately trying to get rid of stock. The Government today officially dec... Drought declared in more North Island regions Six regions in the North Island are officially in drought and the Ministry for Primary Industries says rainfall in the next two months will be critica... Rain no sop to drought hit farmers Light rain across the North Island brought little relief to farmers plagued by extremely dry soil conditions, though showers are forecast over the nex... Farmers fear foot and mouth risk from imports The Government says it is reviewing a report by farmers which raises concerns that imported palm kernel could bring foot and mouth disease to New Zeal... Big dry raises fears of dairy crash MetService says it will be weeks before any significant rain falls in key farming areas, putting the country's two leading exports, meat and dairy, un... Drought declaration brings some relief for Northland farmers Northland farmers, desperate for rain, have received some relief with the Government declaring a drought in the region. The recognition of the dry ... Northland farmers asking to declare drought zone Northland farmers are asking the Government to declare the region a drought zone. A Northland Rural Support Trust meeting will be held tomorrow to ... Big dry forces farmers to sell stock Dry weather has forced many farmers to sell their stock much earlier than usual - and there are fears things will get worse. Federated Farmers nati... Farmers praying for respite from summer sun North Island farmers are considering extreme measures as they become increasingly desperate for relief from soaring temperatures. Waikato farmers a... Dry summer pushes up world dairy prices Dry conditions in the North Island helped drive milk product prices higher at the latest fortnightly global dairy auction, but ongoing strength in the... Dairy prices likely to keep rising Global dairy commodity prices are continuing to trend up, due to weather extremes in the main milk producing countries, says Rabobank. This trend w... Farmers diversify as lamb and wool continues decline South Canterbury farmers say the live export of dairy cattle is becoming increasingly important for the region's economy. A Federated Farmers surve... Farmers to decide fate of sheep + beef project A $65 million project aimed at lifting the nation's income from sheep and beef farming will stand or fall on a farmer poll in five weeks. The vote ... New Zealand agriculture officials deny chemical cover-up New Zealand government and dairy industry officials continued to reassure consumers around the globe Monday that New Zealand dairy products while deny... NZ's water attracts Chinese dairy investment Chinese investment in the New Zealand dairy industry is partly about the export of water, DairyNZ chairman John Luxton says. His comments come as t... Product recall to protect dairy exports The recall of nitrate-reducing products from shelves today, to protect New Zealand's dairy export trade, is a blow to both the dairy industry and effo... Higher milk payouts may spur investment One of the country's biggest dairy farming operators is picking increased interest in buying dairy farms this year driven by higher milk payouts. M...