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Managing risk for food manufacturers

Increasingly complex and rapidly changing patterns in global food consumption, manufacturing and retailing are creating a whole new range of problems in food safety, according to Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Food Microbiology Dr Malik Hussain. With commercial reputations on the line, the situation has prompted him and his colleagues, Senior Lecturer Dr Sue Mason and Associate Professor in Toxicology Ravi Gooneratne, to organise a range of food safety short courses for industry professionals, with the first three courses commencing in April. The courses are run through the Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, and will involve participation from industry experts from the likes of AgResearch and The Institute of Environmental Science and Research. “Food is becoming very complex, and even a simple meal cooked at home or foods bought from the supermarket can easily contain ingredients from several countries or continents. “This complexity, in what is also a highly competitive global industry, requires a sound understanding of what food safety means from ‘paddock to plate’. This is vital to protecting the health of consumers and the commercial reputation of food manufacturers,” says Dr Hussain. It’s a sentiment shared by Associate Professor Ravi Gooneratne, who notes how food safety is gaining global attention, mainly due to an increasing awareness of food poisoning incidents around the world. “Food safety education and training is crucial for food scientists and staff across the whole food industry. Every member of the food supply chain has a part to play in food safety. “The rapid and detrimental effects on a company or country’s reputation from food safety issues should be obvious now,” says Associate Professor Gooneratne. The industry courses in April include a basic two-day course in practical food microbiology, a one-day course in Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (a globally recognised food safety […]

Charters Towers Beef Expo to become a regular event

Beef industry representatives from across the district flocked to the inaugural Northern Beef Producer Expo last Friday – prompting organisers to commence planning for the next event. More than 300 people were in attendance – despite the hot and steamy conditions – and 49 trade displays featuring everything from troughs to tractors added colour and interest to the day. Organising committee member and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries extension officer Megan Willis was delighted that the northern industry had embraced the Expo concept. “We were looking to give the beef industry something that hadn’t been done before and was based around grazing best management practice (BMP) –covering the major elements needed to make the most of your beef business. “The program included inspirational and informed speakers that told of their own experiences in the business of beef, as well as practical demonstrations of innovations and technology, that combined to make it a wonderful day.” Ms Willis said her role, supported by the Queensland Government’s commitment to the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, aimed to assist all Burdekin catchment producers achieve best management practice through the Grazing BMP program. In the Burdekin, DAF partners with NQ Dry Tropics NRM to deliver the program. “Improved management practices not only build more durable and profitable beef businesses, but the benefits flow downstream and enhance water quality in the creeks and rivers that ultimately head to the Great Barrier Reef.” She said the next step for the Beef Expo organising committee – consisting of producers and DAF FutureBeef extension staff – would be to regroup and plan for the future. “We have received great feedback from those who attended, so we will take this on-board and start planning for the next Expo,” Ms Willis said. She added that any producers who would like to […]

Hawke’s Bay economy gets major blast from new food facility

The global success of Rockit™ apples has led to a $17 million investment into land development and a state-of-the-art food packaging facility in Havelock North. Minister for Economic Development, Hon. Steven Joyce officially opened the multi-million dollar food facility today (Wednesday). Havelock North Fruit Company managing director Phil Alison said world-wide consumer demand, which is up 700 percent from 2013, has proved a fruit such as an apple can be marketed as “a premium snack food and compete against sugar-coated confectionary.”

2015 Dairy Community Leadership Awards announced

Two women deemed to be dedicated and inspiring influences in their dairy communities have won the Dairy Community Leadership Award at the annual Dairy Women’s Network Conference in Invercargill. The Dairy Community Leadership Award is open to all Dairy Women’s Network members and recognises dairying women who make significant contributions in their local community, through leadership and support. The 2015 recipients of the award are Western Southland farmer Jo Sanford and Northern Southland mum Rachael Nicholson. The major prizes awarded were a leadership course sponsored by calf rearing specialists Milk Bar and an Agri One Sustainability Course sponsored by ASB. Sanford and her husband converted their Tuatapere, Western Southland sheep and beef farm to dairy in 2007, and now milk 800 cows. “Giving back to the community is very important to me and sharing my knowledge, skills and experience gives me huge personal satisfaction,” she says. “I was honoured to be named as a finalist for this award.” Nicholson and her husband Scott started out their farming career 50/50 sharemilking in Riversdale, Northern Southland. They milked on three different farms over seven seasons, growing their herd and building capital with the aim of purchasing their own farm, which they achieved in 2007 and converted in 2008. After having children, Nicholson joined numerous committees as well as Dairy Women’s Network where she became the Gore Regional Group convenor for four years; a role she handed over in 2014. The family have since sold their farm but remained living in the same community, which has freed Nicholson up to be involved in more community groups. She still has her AI tech certificate and leases dairy stock. There were four finalists up for this year’s title, including Te Aroha farmer Tania Earnshaw and Western Southland farmer Katrina Thomas. The selection panel for the […]

2015 Dairy Woman of the Year named

Federated Farmers national board member and provincial president Katie Milne of Rotomanu, Lake Brunner, West Coast, has been named the 2015 Dairy Woman of the Year at the Dairy Women’s Network conference gala dinner in Invercargill. Milne farms with her partner at Rotomanu, Lake Brunner catchment on the West Coast of the South Island. They have a small high BW Jersey herd of 200 cows. On a separate run-off the couple rear replacement heifer calves and run a localised contracting operation making silage pits, hay, baleage, effluent spreading from ponds, herd homes and stand-off pads. The 2015 Dairy Woman of the Year judging panel comprised Mark Heer from DWN gold partner ASB Bank, Sandy Burghan from Global Women New Zealand, DWN trustee Alison Gibb, DWN chair and 2014 Dairy Woman of the Year winner Justine Kidd, and Fonterra representative Janet Rosanowski. Of Milne, the panel said: “Katie demonstrates an unselfish contribution to the dairy industry delivered with a passion and zest that gets attention. She already plays in a space beyond her immediate expertise, experience and comfort zone epitomising a dairy woman determined to make a difference and thus achieving great advocacy outcomes for the wider dairy industry.” Milne has been the West Coast provincial Federated Farmers president since 2008, and holds a position on the national board, where she is spokesperson on adverse events, rural security, local government, ACC and employment. Her prize is a Fonterra-sponsored scholarship to the Global Women ‘Women in Leadership’ programme valued at $25,000. The programme will give her 12 months of exposure to globally focussed women in leadership roles across the New Zealand business sector.

Record beef returns offset impact of a dry season

Drought and the ratio of sheep to cattle farmed are the two factors with the biggest impact on sheep and beef farmers’ incomes this season. Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) today released its mid-season update. Six months ago, the organisation’s new season outlook predicted the average farm profit before tax would be around $110,800 for 2014-15. However, B+LNZ Economic Service Chief Economist Andrew Burtt says those predictions were based on the assumption that climatic conditions would be normal – and this season has proved to be far from normal in many areas. “While the average farm profit before tax has been adjusted slightly downwards, to $109,400, North Island profits are expected to increase 19 per cent, to $117,100, while South Island profits are predicted to decrease 20 per cent, to $100,200. The difference can be accounted for by the ratio of sheep to cattle farmed in each island, with cattle making up greater numbers in the north. “Farm-gate prices for cattle are expected to reach record highs this season, on the back of strong demand and tight supplies, particularly in the US. We are also experiencing the upside of a weaker New Zealand dollar against the US dollar.” Mr Burtt says total gross farm revenue nationwide should remain similar to last season, with only a 0.7 per cent increase, to $470,500. “Sheep revenue – which is the largest contributor to gross farm revenue – drops 3.6 per cent, reflecting a drop in both the lamb price and the number of prime lambs sold. Cattle revenue, however, is up 19 per cent to $119,700. Compared to last season, beef export volumes are predicted to rise by 1.2 per cent – reflecting the low dairy payout and dry conditions increasing the dairy cow cull – but the average export value is […]

Fonterra offers premium, rolling contracts to organic dairy producers

Fonterra Cooperative Group is paying its organic dairy producers a 45 cents per kilogram of milk solids premium to boost supply amid growing demand. It’s also moving to rolling rather than fixed contracts to give suppliers greater certainty over Fonterra’s commitment to the organic strategy, which still accounts for less than 1 percent of total milk supply. Fonterra’s move is something of a U-turn to the shake up of its previously unprofitable organics business in the past four years. In 2011 it scaled back its operations as public appetite for organic dairy products waned in the wake of the global financial crisis. Then in 2013 it refocused supply to the central and lower North Island, leaving many Northland organic farmers out in the cold. At the time Federated Farmers said Fonterra’s “we want you; now we don’t want; now we do” attitude to organics was confusing for farmers and made it difficult for them to plan and de-risk their businesses. Fonterra said today its new strategy was about giving its 73 organic dairy producers, who are all New Zealand based, greater certainty than they’ve had in the past because it recognised “it has been a difficult journey”. It wants to add an extra 600,000 kg/MS of supply this year, rather than a set number of producers. “This is about controlled growth and follows us consulting widely with our organic farmers and customers about what they want,” said Craig Deadman, Fonterra’s global business manager for organics. Contracts for nearly half of its existing suppliers are coming up for renewal this year. The new rolling contracts include farmers having to give 16 months’ notice if they want to quit supply, while Fonterra must give 28 months’ notice. Suppliers not yet producing organic milk will get the new 45 cents per kg/MS payment […]

NZ meat industry urged to bite bullet on rationalisation, rewards worth ‘billions’

New Zealand’s meat companies has been urged to bite the bullet and carry out long-mooted industry rationalisation, which could deliver “billions of dollars” in benefits, a new report says. The “Red Meat Industry – Pathways to Long-Term Sustainability” report commissioned by Meat Industry Excellence, a farmer-led group campaigning for industry reform, says that over-capacity in the industry “is costing farmers and processors a great deal, and distorting market behaviour to the detriment of export value.” It looks at various options to reduce over-capacity in the meat industry, noting that an amalgamation of Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group alone could produce $400 million of benefits over five years. Adding Anzco and Affco to the mix, which would bring New Zealand’s four biggest meat companies to the table to work on “a coordinated and managed consolidation” could generate more than a billion dollars in savings, the report says. “Returns to sheep and beef farners are too low and not sustainable,” said MIE chairman John McCarthy. “If we don’t turn this around, New Zealand’s number two export industry will dwindle as its productive base erodes.” The report says that at the current pace of conversion of sheep and beef farms to dairy, the number of ewes across the country could fall to 15 million in five years’ time and 10 million in 10 years, from about 21 million currently. By contrast, the national dairy herd could grow to 7.5 million from 6.5 million now. The report said farmers broadly supported a “consolidated, cooperative model” although they have historically contributed to the problem of over-capacity among meat plants by shopping their stock around to companies who will pay a premium to ensure they get enough livestock to run their plant to capacity. The report said over-capacity “is imposing a heavy cost on farmers”, with benefits from rationalising processing plants estimated at $444 million […]

MPI trials super-sized beagle

Harrier hounds – they look like a super-sized beagle and they may soon be working at the border to protect New Zealand from imported pests and diseases. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is currently trialling two harriers (Morley and Muse) to see whether the breed could upsize its detector dogs. “Harriers could be a great asset for our border protection work”, says Brett Hickman, MPI Detection Technology Manager. “Harriers are very much like beagles in appearance, only taller. And similar to beagles, they have great drive, excellent noses for the food and plant materials we are looking for. They also are good with people. I’ve heard them described as “beagles on steroids.” “The extra height would come in handy with passengers carrying backpacks or with baggage stacked on trolleys. Reaching up to sniff baggage can put strain on the hind legs of beagles. “MPI thanks the New Zealand Hunts’ Association, who are the New Zealand custodians for the harrier breed, for their cooperation and help with this initiative. NZHA president Andy Morison says: “We are pleased our sport can make a contribution to help manage New Zealand’s biosecurity system, which is so crucially important to the primary export sector.” MPI recently announced a range of measures to make it harder for materials containing fruit fly to get past the border, introducing 100 percent screening of passengers and baggage by detector dogs. MPI currently uses beagles and labradors as biosecurity detector dogs. It runs a beagle breeding-programme.

NZ lamb wool prices jump to 4-year high

New Zealand lamb wool prices jumped to the highest in more than four years at auction yesterday on increased demand from China for the apparel fibre, and aided by a stronger US dollar. Lamb wool rose 3.9 percent to an average $6.65 per kilogram from last week’s auction, the highest price since February 2011, according to AgriHQ. The average price for 35 micron wool, a benchmark for crossbred wool used for carpets and accounting for the majority of New Zealand’s production, slipped 1.9 percent $5.25/kg as it retreated after touching a three month high last week on lower volumes. The New Zealand dollar has declined against the greenback over the past week after better jobs data out of the US stoked speculation the Federal Reserve may raise interest rates in June. The stronger US dollar has meant that while the cost for buyers paying in that currency have remained relatively stable, the weaker New Zealand dollar means they are able to pay more for lamb wool in local currency terms. “Lamb wool increased relative to the US dollar as there is very strong Chinese interest in this wool type, and trading to that country is done in US dollars,” said AgriHQ agriculture analyst Ivan Luketina. “Other wool types where demand was spread over China, Australia, India and Europe had smaller increases as the NZ dollar has held up more against most of these currencies than against the US dollar.” Some 7,995 wool bales were offered at the latest auction in the South Island, the smallest weekly offering so far this year, as New Zealand comes out of its main shearing season from December to early February. Wool is New Zealand’s 14th largest commodity export.

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