About
Guy Trafford
Latest articles
Recent dairy news mostly positive, with Fonterra progressing its restructuring, higher auction prices, some sympathy for what farming contributes. But climate issues remain
8th Oct 20, 4:53pm
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Recent dairy news mostly positive, with Fonterra progressing its restructuring, higher auction prices, some sympathy for what farming contributes. But climate issues remain
Guy Trafford assesses the strategic options for rural voters in this year's general election. Making sure your choice isn't 'wasted' is now clearer, he suggests
4th Oct 20, 10:33am
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Guy Trafford assesses the strategic options for rural voters in this year's general election. Making sure your choice isn't 'wasted' is now clearer, he suggests
Guy Trafford tracks the decline in the national sheep flock, noting it is getting down to the minimum level where New Zealand can be an efficient sheepmeat producer
1st Oct 20, 10:21am
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Guy Trafford tracks the decline in the national sheep flock, noting it is getting down to the minimum level where New Zealand can be an efficient sheepmeat producer
The Wool Industry Working Group's latest report holds out little prospect of a change in fortunes for their natural fibre, the latest in a long line of attempts to find new viable markets
25th Sep 20, 11:49am
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The Wool Industry Working Group's latest report holds out little prospect of a change in fortunes for their natural fibre, the latest in a long line of attempts to find new viable markets
With early voting about to open (and be more popular than ever), Guy Trafford reviews the election policies affecting the rural community from across the political spectrum. He isn't impressed
24th Sep 20, 10:26am
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With early voting about to open (and be more popular than ever), Guy Trafford reviews the election policies affecting the rural community from across the political spectrum. He isn't impressed
Guy Trafford digests Fonterra's result for the year just gone and looks ahead at what the current season may bring
21st Sep 20, 11:39am
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Guy Trafford digests Fonterra's result for the year just gone and looks ahead at what the current season may bring
The surprise rise in dairy prices emphasises just how abnormal trading has become for all agricultural products, as local distortions produce supply and price reactions in distant markets
17th Sep 20, 9:01am
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The surprise rise in dairy prices emphasises just how abnormal trading has become for all agricultural products, as local distortions produce supply and price reactions in distant markets
The block on international travel has hit the daigou trade hard and provided surpercharged growth for established commercial channels of products that were traded that way
11th Sep 20, 10:20am
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The block on international travel has hit the daigou trade hard and provided surpercharged growth for established commercial channels of products that were traded that way
Guy Trafford says tax-induced land use changes means the demise of beef cows are just starting despite some clear advantages
9th Sep 20, 3:43pm
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Guy Trafford says tax-induced land use changes means the demise of beef cows are just starting despite some clear advantages
Dairy price falls get analysts' attention. Fonterra slips in the pecking order. Ship disaster hardens attitudes to live animal exports
4th Sep 20, 12:36pm
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Dairy price falls get analysts' attention. Fonterra slips in the pecking order. Ship disaster hardens attitudes to live animal exports
Guy Trafford is looking for reader help in trying to understand why farmers in the South Island get paid consistently less for their livestock
2nd Sep 20, 12:31pm
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Guy Trafford is looking for reader help in trying to understand why farmers in the South Island get paid consistently less for their livestock
Guy Trafford assesses events in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China and notes how they may guide our COVID response here. He also reports on the changing value of country of origin labeling
27th Aug 20, 2:06pm
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Guy Trafford assesses events in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China and notes how they may guide our COVID response here. He also reports on the changing value of country of origin labeling
Guy Trafford reviews the financial performance of stock market star, A2 Milk, a real money machine, and reveals what they pay their effective chief executives
26th Aug 20, 10:13am
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Guy Trafford reviews the financial performance of stock market star, A2 Milk, a real money machine, and reveals what they pay their effective chief executives
Dairy farmers have modest expectations of politicians for election promises, and some basic progress on broadband is still on the list. Guy Trafford also assesses our access to a COVID-19 vaccine
21st Aug 20, 12:49pm
Dairy farmers have modest expectations of politicians for election promises, and some basic progress on broadband is still on the list. Guy Trafford also assesses our access to a COVID-19 vaccine
Guy Trafford explains how the Commerce Commission DIRA review worked out this year, and focuses on Fonterra's push for rights to refuse milk supply
20th Aug 20, 10:05am
Guy Trafford explains how the Commerce Commission DIRA review worked out this year, and focuses on Fonterra's push for rights to refuse milk supply
Guy Trafford says a looser response to the pandemic threat favouring the economy over the health risks won't result in better outcomes in the long run
15th Aug 20, 9:46am
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Guy Trafford says a looser response to the pandemic threat favouring the economy over the health risks won't result in better outcomes in the long run
The collapse of prices in the leather market is due to reprise a big animal welfare problem for the wider dairy industry, one that should have been addressed a long time ago in Guy Trafford's view
12th Aug 20, 10:26am
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The collapse of prices in the leather market is due to reprise a big animal welfare problem for the wider dairy industry, one that should have been addressed a long time ago in Guy Trafford's view
Guy Trafford finds that reports China is moving to reduce average red meat consumption to be wide of the mark and that our exports seem safe even through the pandemic
7th Aug 20, 10:37am
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Guy Trafford finds that reports China is moving to reduce average red meat consumption to be wide of the mark and that our exports seem safe even through the pandemic
Guy Trafford says we should use this time between pandemic waves to prepare for a tougher market environment in which to sell our premium food products, given that the economic hurt from multiple waves will grow
6th Aug 20, 10:10am
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Guy Trafford says we should use this time between pandemic waves to prepare for a tougher market environment in which to sell our premium food products, given that the economic hurt from multiple waves will grow
Selling high quality dairy products into China comes with all sorts of different tensions, from big power rivalries to dealing with suppressed consumer suspicions. It is a high risk trade even with exemplar products
30th Jul 20, 10:32am
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Selling high quality dairy products into China comes with all sorts of different tensions, from big power rivalries to dealing with suppressed consumer suspicions. It is a high risk trade even with exemplar products
Guy Trafford welcomes the new focus on encouraging employment in the agricultural sector, but he finds very mixed signals especially from Government agencies, and is a sector starting this new search with some major handicaps
29th Jul 20, 9:25am
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Guy Trafford welcomes the new focus on encouraging employment in the agricultural sector, but he finds very mixed signals especially from Government agencies, and is a sector starting this new search with some major handicaps
Guy Trafford tracks the underlying demand from China for animal feed and notes that product moves no matter what the political pressures are
23rd Jul 20, 11:20am
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Guy Trafford tracks the underlying demand from China for animal feed and notes that product moves no matter what the political pressures are
There may be as much as a 20% cost saving using clover over nitrogen fertiliser, but animal welfare issues will need attention. And will the push for agritech really raise exports?
22nd Jul 20, 8:55am
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There may be as much as a 20% cost saving using clover over nitrogen fertiliser, but animal welfare issues will need attention. And will the push for agritech really raise exports?
Guy Trafford reports that local markets are feeling the crosswinds of trade war tensions and the pandemic even if New Zealand and its exports are not directly targeted
17th Jul 20, 10:32am
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Guy Trafford reports that local markets are feeling the crosswinds of trade war tensions and the pandemic even if New Zealand and its exports are not directly targeted
Guy Trafford considers the options that farmers have at the upcoming election, given that National seems damaged, NZ First seem unreliable, and Labour and the Greens seem either uninterested or downright antagonistic
15th Jul 20, 1:50pm
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Guy Trafford considers the options that farmers have at the upcoming election, given that National seems damaged, NZ First seem unreliable, and Labour and the Greens seem either uninterested or downright antagonistic