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3 Premium for wool growers in new deal Vol 24 No 5 | February 9, 2026
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Prime stock flow slows at meatworks
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NATIONWIDE grass market has dramatically slowed the flow of prime stock to processors just as meat companies gear up for what is traditionally the season peak. AFFCO chief executive Nigel Stevens said stock flows were reasonable until two weeks ago, when widespread rain prompted grass growth and suddenly curbed the flow of stock. “Processors now face the issue of overcapacity during peak season, with many sites on double shifts or staffed for significantly higher livestock volumes.”
Processors now face the issue of overcapacity during peak season, with many sites staffed for significantly higher livestock volumes. Nigel Stevens AFFCO Silver Fern Farms chief supply officer Jarrod Stewart said despite farmers retaining stock, the company has met its sheepmeat requirements while beef flows have slowed. Murray Behrent, the Alliance
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Lowland legacy for hill country heroes Paul Boulden grew up on Romney Marsh in England surrounded by Romney sheep, a breed his family have farmed since the 1880s. Farmers Weekly writer Fiona Terry visited Boulden to learn more about one of NZ’s most versatile sheep breeds. Photo: Amanda Lockhart
NEWS 11
Peeling back identity of heritage apples University of Otago student Aaron Hewson is delving into the DNA history of heritage apples. He hopes to help establish genetic diversity in the fruit as climate change brings more disease and pest challenges.
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NEWS 3
NEWS 7
OPINION 15
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NEWS
Production
Group’s manager of livestock and shareholder services, expects ovine numbers to build over FebruaryMarch and cattle volumes to follow from mid-March onwards. While export prices remain firm, exporters warn consumer demand for some lamb products is softening and a firming United States dollar will be reflected in lower schedules. AgriHQ analyst Mel Croad said farmers are responding to an abundance of grass which coincides with record prime and store lamb prices. “They are holding on and putting more weight on instead of offloading finished stock and entering the store lamb markets and paying a lot of money for lighter animals.” Average on-farm store lamb prices in Otago and Southland are between $140 and $200 a head, $25 to $50/head higher than last year. Croad said this has created some procurement tension but the current prime stock prices also reflect international prices. The current AgriHQ indicator price for prime lamb is $10.95/kg in the North Island and $10.85/kg in the South Island. In January 2024 the comparable prices were $6/kg in the North Island and $5.90/kg in the South Island. “I can’t see anything at this
S FOECT CU OR S
Neal Wallace