Agriculture sector driving national economic recovery, sheep and beef sector wants assurance on farm plan practicality, and national shearing team gears up for Northern tour.

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Agriculture sector driving national economic recovery

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has credited the agriculture sector with pulling the country out of recession during his visit to Taranaki yesterday. Speaking at a Taranaki Chamber of Commerce lunch, Luxon highlighted record dairy prices and positive forecasts across farming sectors as key economic drivers.

The Prime Minister's comments follow this week's global dairy trade auction where prices reached their highest level in nearly three years, showing resilience despite international tariff concerns. Luxon emphasized agriculture's economic impact, generating approximately $10,000 for every New Zealander.

The red meat sector is projecting a $1.2 billion boost in the coming year, while wool prices are performing at their best level in eight years after prolonged difficult seasons. The government recently announced plans to use woollen fibre products in new buildings and refurbishments, while Kainga Ora has opened its tendering process to wool carpet providers.

Luxon pointed to Southland and Canterbury as regions experiencing particularly strong economic momentum as farmers become more profitable and reinvest in their local communities. The Prime Minister was unequivocal about agriculture's importance, stating it is the sector powering New Zealand's economic recovery.

 

Sheep and beef sector wants assurance on farm plan practicality

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has responded to the Government's revised freshwater farm plans announcement with cautious optimism while highlighting the need for further detail to address sheep and beef farmers' concerns.

B+LNZ Chair Kate Acland welcomes positive aspects of the announcement, including the commitment to replace consents and other regulations with freshwater farm plans and the risk-based approach to auditing and certification. The recognition of existing industry assurance programmes to reduce duplication is another step in the right direction according to Acland.

Despite these encouraging signals, significant questions remain about risk thresholds, which aspects of current regulations will be replaced, and how demanding the content requirements for freshwater farm plans will be. B+LNZ maintains that low-risk sheep and beef farming operations should be exempt from freshwater farm plan requirements altogether.

Acland emphasizes that any new system must be practical, matched to actual environmental risk, and proportionate in terms of cost and effort. The organisation has consistently argued that farm plans can play an important role in addressing environmental issues, particularly in at-risk catchments for farms managing high-risk activities.

B+LNZ will continue working closely with Ministers and officials in coming months to ensure farmers' interests are represented as the details are finalised, with regular updates promised as more information becomes available.

 

Hawke's Bay farmers seeing benefits from erosion control trees

Tree planting initiatives across Hawke's Bay hill country farms are delivering measurable benefits in erosion reduction, according to new data presented to the regional council's Environment & Integrated Catchments Committee this week.

Analysis from 50 farms shows strategic planting of poplars and willows can reduce erosion by up to 70 percent on high-risk land, while closed canopy forest plantings can achieve up to 90 percent reduction. The findings confirm that years of erosion control investment by the council in partnership with local farmers is producing tangible results.

Committee chairperson Sophie Siers says the science proves that targeted tree planting is effectively preventing slips and keeping sediment out of waterways. A study of 50 farm sites revealed tree-covered land experienced 1,895 fewer landslides – representing a 7 percent reduction in slips and 9 percent less sediment flowing into rivers.

The findings are particularly significant given that more than 250,000 hectares of hill country in Hawke's Bay is considered high risk for erosion. Siers notes that planting trees creates more resilient landscapes that reduce sediment loss, which directly improves water quality and helps prevent downstream flooding caused by sediment build-up.

 

Second shear holds firm amid broader wool market pressures

North Island wool prices showed modest improvements at this week's auction despite global market volatility creating a cautious atmosphere. PGG Wrightson's Appraisal and Procurement Coordinator Annabel Busby reports second shear wool maintained strong demand with 50-100mm average style lengths jumping 10 percent. Crossbred fleece categories recorded gains across all quality levels, while lamb's wool stabilized following previous significant downturns.

The North Island sale achieved a 75 percent clearance rate with coarse lamb's wool holding steady as exporters use it for blending with shears after filling seasonal orders. The next North Island auction is scheduled for May 1st.

Meanwhile, South Island wool values deteriorated this week, with lamb's wool most severely affected. South Island Auction Manager Dave Burridge attributes the weakening market to rapid appreciation of the NZ dollar against the US dollar alongside ongoing global uncertainty challenging wool exporters. Despite the downturn, the South Island auction achieved a higher clearance rate at 79 percent.

Burridge remains cautiously optimistic that early season and higher quality pre-lamb shorn wools might deliver more positive returns for growers in coming sales. The next South Island auction is set for May 8th.

 

More than 60 jobs could go at Mount Maunganui fertiliser plant

Toa Henderson and Jack Fagan will don the black singlet and silver fern for New Zealand's six-match shearing test series across the UK and France this year. The Wools of New Zealand Shearing tour will see the team compete against Scotland, England, France, and Wales between June and July.

Henderson earned his place after winning the New Zealand Shears Open championship in Te Kuiti on March 29, marking his first international appearance for New Zealand. Fagan secures his spot as third placegetter in the NZ Shears Circuit final, making this his third consecutive test series after competing in the UK last year and recent transtasman matches.

They'll face Scotland at Lochearnhead on June 28, England at Harrogate's Great Yorkshire Show on July 9, and then cross to France for a test at Boussac on July 13 before returning for three matches against Wales at Cothi, Royal Welsh Show, and Corwen.

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