BEEF
Beef schedules have at last reignited with some big lifts this week mainly driven in the North Island as procurement pressure builds on the back of a slow boner cow kill and strong local trade prices.
The strong currency continues to eat away at margins both at the farm gate and at the processing end.
Farmers have been reminded to empty out stock before transporting as the pollution hot line complaints are dominated by truck effluent spills.
LAMB
Lamb schedules again moved up in the North Island as renewed moisture levels revitalized pastures and reduced supply of stock to be harvested.
The end of March processing figures show the lamb kill is down nearly 3% and mutton kill up 5% to illustrate the impact the dairy dominated land use changes are making.
Heavy rain in the central and northern SI has caused problems in low lying areas and coastal hill country in the Kaikoura area has had severe slips and loss of fences.
Store lamb values are steadily rising at saleyards as lack of supply and recent moisture has given farmers opportunities to utilise extra grass with trading stock.
The MIE group has criticised the appointment of Alliance’s new independent director Vannessa Stoddart for her lack of experience in the food sector.
WOOL
The latest wool auction saw all indicators lift as an empty pipeline, limited supply and a cancelled North Island sale for next week drive demand in spite of a hot currency.
Plans for the new Lincoln Agricultural Hub move closer, despite negative southern publicity, with the appointment of a project manager and a new chair in Graham Stuart who has plenty of experience in rural directorships.
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DEER
Stronger interest in venison middle cuts is encouraging, reports processors and earlier than normal orders with low stocks in hand, bodes well for prospects later in the year.
Growth in the healthy food sector in Asian countries is helping keep demand strong for velvet, as the season comes to a rapid end.
Industry leaders predict the market could handle an increase in volume of this product, as NZ producers take market share off our international competitors.
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