Market for beef more stable

Meat processor and exporter Silver Fern Farms has been able to confirm beef contracts with farmer suppliers for December and January, now the market has become more stable. Trading conditions late last year forced the company to delay issuing its new contracts for beef. Silver Fern Farms chief executive Keith Cooper said the United States market - New Zealand's main export beef market - has improved, however other markets remain highly volatile. Mr Cooper said on Radio NZ  that prices for beef and lamb are being driven to a large extent by the better exchange rate and by meat companies competing for the reduced supply of livestock, stemming from last year's drought.