Category Archives: New Zealand At Home

Meat activity in New Zealand, of interest to exporters and importers.

Outlook cloudy for 2013

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Allan BarberHappy New Year to you all. Meat industry commentator Allan Barber has already had his head down thinking about what’s likely to pan out for the industry later in 2013.

His latest blog, which also appears at www.interest.co.nz, talks of a weak US dollar, weak export demand and low prices for Kiwi producers. However, Allan’s picking that there will be less effect on New Zealand beef than on sheepmeat and he foresees more pressure on lamb this year.

Looking globally, he sees aversion of the fiscal cliff in the US, will allow US economic recovery to emerge, will also allow recovery in China and for Europe to “move further back from its own economic disaster”. In turn, both New Zealand and Australia should avoid the worst impact of an extended downturn in main markets, he says.

His “big questions” for 2013 are whether all meat companies will survive the year and whether the increasing use of farm data will assist the co-operation between farmer and meat processor. Read more …

Refreshed toolkit for land and environmental management

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New Zealand farmers have a refreshed version of the Land and Environment Planning (LEP) toolkit to help them manage land and environmental issues on their farms.

Produced by Beef + Lamb NZ Ltd (B+LNZ), the toolkit was launched at an event in Christchurch at the end of last week by Minister for the Environment Amy Adams.

The tool helps farmers identify actions to improve production through good environmental management of the land, soil and water resources, says B+LNZ chief executive Scott Champion. “These plans can help them meet regional council requirements too in all parts of the country.”

The sheep and beef sector is an important contributor to the New Zealand economy, producing $7.5 billion a year in export returns. “Consumers in New Zealand’s red meat sector export markets value this country’s commitment to environmentally sound practices,” says Champion.

A copy of the toolkit can be downloaded here.

 

Pure South on board for butchery tri-nations

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Sharp BlacksAlliance Group’s export brand Pure South has been confirmed as principal sponsor of the annual butchery test match which will now be known as the Pure South Butchery Tri-Nations.

The competition will see the best British and Australian butchers travel to Wanaka in March to take on New Zealand’s Wedderburn Sharp Blacks.

Murray Brown, general manager, marketing, Alliance Group, said it was fitting that a strong and successful export meat brand in Europe and Asia was backing a world-class competition.

“We’re pleased Pure South is supporting some of the world’s top butchers as they battle it out for the top honours. After a decade representing Alliance Group’s lamb in more than 65 countries world-wide, Pure South is now well-established as a brand associated with outstanding quality. Millions of consumer look for Pure South whenever their shopping or dining. It symbolises all the key elements of Alliance Group – pure southern location, world-class technology, production techniques and a proud heritage.”

2013 will be the inaugural Tri-Nations, following on from two years of Trans-Tasman battles between New Zealand and Australia.

Australia has come out the victor of both previous encounters by the narrowest of margins, so the Wedderburn Sharp Blacks, sponsored by Beef + Lamb New Zealand, will be looking for redemption on their home turf next year.

The competition will be accompanied by a study tour which will see 60 butchers from across the three nations travelling the Central Otago region.

ANZCO starts energy management programme

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One of New Zealand’s largest exporters is set to save more than $2 million a year and enhance its global reputation as a sustainable producer through a company-wide energy management programme.

The Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority’s EECA Business announced yesterday it would support the initiative over two years to help meat processor and exporter ANZCO generate long-term energy savings in its New Zealand plants.

With annual sales of $1.25 billion, ANZCO Foods Ltd processes and markets New Zealand beef and lamb products around the world. The firm employs over 3,000 staff world-wide and has 11 meat processing plants in New Zealand.

This programme will target a reduction in its processing plant energy use by 25 gigawatt hours (GWh), returning ongoing annual savings of $2.45 million after two years.

EECA Business general manager Ian Niven says that making better use of its energy will provide far-reaching benefits for the company and congratulated the company on its vision.

“Globally New Zealand is recognised for sustainably produced, premium quality meat products. And energy efficiency is one of the best ways to strengthen environmental credentials.

“By taking a lead in energy efficiency, ANZCO is making significant energy cost savings and signaling to its customers that it is committed to sustainable production,” he says.

Mark Clarkson, ANZCO Foods.

ANZCO managing director, Mark Clarkson says the programme will deliver on many levels for the company.

“Sustainability is key to the ANZCO brand and we are always looking for new ways to build on our reputation for environmentally responsible production, so reducing energy costs is a priority.”

The programme involves the establishment of a group-wide energy management plan, led by a team responsible for putting in place up to $5 million of identified energy efficiency projects.

With the assistance of one of EECA Business’ industrial programme partners, ANZCO will set up a system to help keep the programme on-track, measure efficiency outcomes, and develop case studies for a number of the projects.

Ian Niven says management commitment is key to the programme achieving its objectives.

“From the Board of Directors through to site operations, ANZCO leadership has indicated it wants to foster a culture of efficient energy use throughout the company.

“Such commitment is important to the success of making enduring improvements to energy management.”

EECA Business funding of up to $450,000 will be made available in stages upon achievement of various programme milestones.

Silver Fern Farms donates $500,000 to Te Aroha Events Centre

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Pictured left to right are: Eoin Garden, chairman, Silver Fern Farms;
Keith Cooper, chief executive, Silver Fern Farms; Peter Jager, chairman Te Aroha Events Centre Charitable Trust; and Prime Minister John Key.

At the official opening of Silver Fern Farms’ new world-class Te Aroha beef processing facility last week, the company also announced its intention to make a sizeable donation to a community initiative of major significance to Te Aroha.

Silver Fern Farms chief executive, Keith Cooper, revealed that the co-operative and its local farmer-suppliers had jointly contributed to a dedicated Te Aroha Community Fund over the period the plant had been out of operation.

Silver Fern Farms’ Te Aroha beef plant was destroyed by fire in December 2010, devastating the company’s local workforce and impacting heavily on the Te Aroha community. Fully aware of the uncertainty the community faced, the company signalled its intent early-on to rebuild a new state-of-the-art flagship processing operation on the same site.

In the interim period, the company had endeavoured to provide alternative options for staff whose livelihoods were affected by the fire, to the extent of making positions available at neighbouring plants, providing accommodation supplements in the early stages and donating meat for food parcels for those in need.

“We were heartened by the way the Te Aroha community rallied so bravely around affected Silver Fern Farms employees. From the outset, we were determined to make a meaningful contribution to the township above and beyond our commitment to rebuild – one that would acknowledge the support of the Te Aroha community into the future. We reached out to our loyal suppliers in the area and their response to the appeal was overwhelming” said Cooper.

Over the last two years the company had been working in partnership with the Matamata-Piako District Council to identify where the fund might ultimately be best deployed. This culminated in the co-operative proudly announcing base funding of $500,000 for the establishment of the Silver Fern Farms Te Aroha Events Centre in association with the Te Aroha Events Centre Charitable Trust.  The Events Centre has been a long-hoped for facility in the Te Aroha area to support community health and wellbeing, and Silver Fern Farms’ donation will provide a major funding boost to progress the initiative.

Silver Fern Farms’ Te Aroha plant will be fully commissioned ahead of the new season and will employ up to 380 staff when operating at full capacity, which is welcome news for the township.

“The whole community has been behind the project every step of the way” said Te Aroha plant manager, Lance Warmington. “The company’s commitment to rebuilding Te Aroha is a big deal here – it means future security for hundreds of families in the area.”

Meat and dairy lead manufacturing rise

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Meat and dairy products dominated the rise in total manufacturing sales for the September 2012 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand.

After adjusting for seasonal effects, the value of total manufacturing sales rose 1.6 percent ($370 million), led by the 9.3 percent increase in meat and dairy product manufacturing.

When price changes are removed, the volume of manufacturing sales rose 2.6 percent, also led by meat and dairy product manufacturing, up 13 percent.

“The volume increase in meat and dairy manufacturing is reflected in the rise of export volumes for dairy and meat products, with increases of 32 percent in dairy and 15 percent in meat,” industry and labour statistics manager Blair Cardno says.

“Looking at the longer-term picture, the trend for manufacturing volumes has risen in the past year.”

Without the meat and dairy industry contribution, the volume of manufacturing sales fell 1.4 percent in the September quarter.

New frontline border staff

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David Carter, NZ Primary Industries MinisterForty six new border staff graduated last week boosting New Zealand’s biosecurity frontline.

With training completed of the largest intake of border staff in over a decade, the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) issued warrants to 43 new quarantine inspectors and three new detector dog handlers at a ceremony in Auckland.

Welcoming the new graduates Primary Industries Minister David Carter said, “As Government had planned, these new border staff bring MPI’s bisoecurity frontline up to full strength and will help meet the demands of the summer peak season.”

The majority of the quarantine inspectors will be based in Auckland and five will go to Wellington. The three new dog handlers will go to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Four existing warranted quarantine inspectors who have trained as dog handlers also graduated. They join the 11 detector dog handlers that went through the MPI training centre earlier this year.

Glamming up for the competition

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The competition is heating up for the 2013 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies.

More than 100 entries from across the country will be competing next year for the Grand Champion title.

The competition, sponsored by Pfizer Animal Genetics, which aims to find New Zealand’s most tender and tasty lamb is entering its seventh year and sees farmers from across the country vying for the Grand Champion title.

B+LNZ Ltd chief executive, Scott Champion, says the competition is an excellent opportunity to profile the quality product New Zealand farmers produce.

“The Glammies gives farmers a chance to showcase breed lines and demonstrate how their animal management talent and hard work in the field culminates in great tasting lamb.”

Winning the top prize is not easy; entries will first be scientifically tested at Carne Technologies to find the top 20.

From here it will be down to the tastebuds of a panel of judges at the Upper Clutha A & P Show in Wanaka on 8 March 2013, where the winner will be determined. Butchers also have an opportunity to profile their product with the Glammies Retailer of the Year Award.

The competition is supported by processing plants across the country. These include: AFFCO, Alliance Group Ltd, Ashburton Meat Processors Ltd, Auckland Meat Processors/Wilson Hellaby, Blue Sky Meats, Cabernet Foods/Kintyre Meats, Harris Meats, Land Meat NZ, Lean Meats, Silver Fern Farms, Taylor Preston/Ken Wilson Meats.

Silver Fern Farms’ Te Aroha opening

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Pictured at the Te Aroha opening are (left to right): local MP Scott Simpson; John Key; Eoin Garden chairman Silver Fern Farms; Keith Cooper, chief executive Silver Fern Farms; Kevin Winders, chief operating officer Silver Fern Farms.

Tackling agricultural emissions

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The New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC)’s work has been highlighted in a film, produced recently by Motu.

This film, which you can watch below, is the product of years of research into how New Zealand can reduce its agricultural greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to reduce climate change. It covers the basic science along with current and potential future technological solutions. With a range of views from farmers to scientists to economists, the film also looks at the challenge of mitigating agricultural GHGs. It covers how New Zealand can develop policy and actions to not only deal with NZ’s emissions, but lead the world in showing other countries it can be done.

You can watch more Motu videos here.