Beef and Lamb

Sheep and beef farmers may be in for a tough time with profits predicted to halve this season as the full impact of lower lamb prices and widespread drought starts to hit home.

South Canterbury farmer Anne Munro has been re-elected to the board of Beef and Lamb New Zealand.

A predicted fall in sheep and beef farm profits for the 2012-13 season, while disappointing, is not entirely unexpected given the global recession, Beef and Lamb New Zealand economic service executive director Rob Davison says.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand chairman Mike Petersen is urging farmers and meat companies to work closely together to plan ahead for next season.

Don Morrison has won the Glammies. The Gore farmer's Growbulk lamb was named 2012 Beef and Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards grand champion at the Upper Clutha A and P Show.

Farm-gate lamb prices have continued to soften as the season reaches full pace, while good seasonal conditions have seen slaughter numbers lift much more slowly than normal.

A proposal to develop on-farm management capability to enable productivity gains in the red meat sector has been approved by the Primary Growth Partnership investment advisory panel to business plan development phase.

As the Beef and Lamb New Zealand board representative for the Central South Island, which includes most of the wider Otago area, let me bring you up to speed with what your organisation is up to in your region.

Beef and Lamb New Zealand is switching its promotional focus for New Zealand lamb in the United Kingdom.

Southern beef breeders enjoyed considerable success at the Beef and Lamb New Zealand beef expo at Feilding.