Higher grain prices for NZ poultry farmers

The Poultry Industry Association of New Zealand
foresees an increase in chicken prices because of an 80% increase in Australian
grain prices due to crops failing in the drought there.

Nevertheless, the
poultry industry is defending the use of imported grain from Australia, depspite
disapproval from New Zealand grain growers.
A South Canterbury growers’
representative, Jeremy Talbot, says the industry only has itself to blame for
being exposed to rising imported grain prices.

He says more New Zealand
farmers would still be growing grain if users such as poultry and stock feed
companies and mills had paid farmers more reasonable prices in the past.
However, Poultry Industry Association executive director Michael Brooks says
chicken producers have no choice but to get some of their feed requirements
offshore. At the same time, the imported grains have helped poultry producers to
keep prices down, according to Brooks.