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August 30, 2024
Impact of Imported Feed Shortages
Implications of global price and supply of supplementary feeds on the New Zealand agricultural sector
Project Details Ngā taipitopito
Project Status:
CompletedChallenge funding:
$110,000Research duration:
June 2022 – June 2023Collaborators Ngā haumi
AgFirst | WhenuaTahi
What are we doing?E aha ana mātou?
Pork, poultry and high-input dairy farms are facing significantly higher prices for imported feed, due to shipping costs and supply issues as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is creating challenges for farmers who are struggling to meet production goals and animal welfare targets while remaining profitable.
This project will investigate the impact on the agricultural sector if supplementary feeds cannot be imported or are too expensive. It will explore how dairy farmers could change their farm systems so they didn’t need to rely on imported supplements, how land-use would change if all imported feeds had to be replaced by domestically grown crops, and the impact of insufficient domestically grown supplementary feeds.
The project will detail alternative and realistic solutions that will outline a pathway for our primary industries to navigate through during these challenging global events.
How can the research be used? Ka pēhea e whai take ai te rangahau?
- This project will provide insights on the implications of current global disruptions, which could be applied during later pandemics and times of global unrest.
- Researchers will survey pig and poultry industries and review feed statistics to understand the range and spread of issues faced. The research will also analyse selected dairy farms (in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Canterbury, Southland) about the on-farm financial and environmental impacts of shortages of supplementary feeds.
- A report will detail alternative and realistic solutions that will outline a pathway for our primary industries to navigate through during these challenging global events. For example, using domestically grown feeds as a substitute (the demand for which could trigger land use change into arable cropping); or farm systems change to incorporate homegrown supplementary feed and de-intensification to remove reliance on imported feed.
- Report content will be of interest to audience groups such as rural professionals and farmers, presented via webinar.
Related research updates Ngā pānui mō te rangahau nei
Research team Te hunga i whai wāhi mai
Project Lead/Science Lead
Raewyn Densley
AgFirst
Te Ao Māori Lead
Julian Retikaukau
WhenuaTahi (LandFirst) Ltd
Jeremy Hunt
AgFirst
Phil Journeaux
AgFirst
Phil Weir
AgFirst
James Allen
AgFirst
Tools & resources Ngā utauta me ngā rauemi
Summary
Growing More Grain: Impacts & Opportunities for Dairy Farmers
New Zealand’s livestock sectors are reliant on imported grain and PKE. Recently completed research asks whether growing more grain in New Zealand is a viable…
Summary
Demand & Supply: Trends and Risks of Imported Feed
The global price and availability of supplementary feeds – grain and PKE – have significant implications for New Zealand livestock farmers. Recenty completed research assessed…
Infographic
State of Grain: Impacts & risks for dairy farmers
This infographic depicts the risks, supply and demand for imported feed in New Zealand. The PDF of this infographic linked below will print on two…
Technical Report
Implications of global price and supply of supplementary feeds on the New Zealand agricultural sector
This report outlines some of the complexities of the global grain and PKE markets and the associated risks with being very reliant on IPF. It…
Presentation
Reducing the reliance of New Zealand livestock systems on internationally produced feed
Presentation to NIPIM and farmers that gives an overview of: global grain production and New Zealand grain and feed production; imports of grain and feed…
In the media Mai i te ao pāpaho
New Zealand Dairy Exporter, Sept/Oct 23
The Journal, September 2023
New Zealand Dairy Exporter, Sept/Oct 23
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