New Zealand groups assess covid-19 impact on farmers’ waiting times
Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) economic service and the Meat Industry Association (MIA) have released a joint statement on the country’s current processing capacity and potential impact on waiting times for farmers.
New covid-19 meat processing protocol, which requires physical distancing between plant employees, has reduced the industry’s processing capacity by approximately 50% for ovine and 30% for bovine.
The delays some farmers are already experiencing will worsen, according to the statement, which “is causing concern, particularly for those in drought areas with backlogs but also in the Southern South Island, where there are longer waits, more stock on-farm than desirable and the growth season window is rapidly closing.”
For lamb, mutton and bobby calves, the assessment details expected delays to lamb processing in the South Island throughout April and May, while delays aren’t expected to worsen in the North Island. The assessment also said that lambs are being prioritised over cull ewes and that farmers are saying there is significant backlogs on ewes.
With cattle, the assessment recommends that farmers talk to their respective processor as each will have individual plans around prime versus manufacturing. The analysis provided was said to look at different animal classes and forecast numbers still to be processed versus capacity.
According to the assessment, an extra week’s delay is expected on top of any current backlog of prime steer and heifer in both islands in May and might continue through June in the North Island. Bull processing is well advanced, the statement said, and those with bulls still on are likely to be caught in the cattle backlog.
There is also an expected extra week’s delay to cow processing in both islands in May, but normal seasonal patterns are hoped to resume in June.
“What this analysis sought to identify is what difference the processing reduction would make to that wait, and the knock-on effects across species and islands,” said Sam McIvor, chief executive of B+LNZ.
“It confirms there will be some extra delays for farmers to get stock processed so we are encouraging farmers to talk to their processor to understand exactly how it will affect them. The processing capacity constraint is also having a knock-on effect on dairy farmers who rely on grazing off and those farmers who look to move weaners and other young stock through to finishers. Some of those avenues are closing due to the backlog. The analysis reinforces the need for farmers to have a feed plan in place.
“We know it has been a stressful few weeks for farmers and rural communities and there are still hard decisions ahead for many. It has been great to see the sector pull together and support each other through this time.”
Sirma Karapeeva, chief executive of MIA, said the capacity figures may change.
“Processors and their people are bedding in the new way of working and are looking at ways to optimise their processing operations over the coming weeks to better manage demand.”
