Dairy cash cow for regional economies
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 14 July
2014
For immediate release
Dairy cash cow for regional economies
New Zealand’s regional economies are milking the dairy industry, taking $14.3 billion in total in 2013-14 – a 40 percent increase in earnings – DairyNZ figures show.
The regions earned about $14.3 billion from dairy farms in 2013-2014, taking the lion’s share of national dairy earnings. In total, it’s estimated the New Zealand economy earned $17.6 billion from dairy exports that year.
DairyNZ’s chief executive Tim Mackle says its recent Economic Survey shows the industry contributed about 40 percent more than the previous year and injected much of that back into growth, farm spending and jobs.
“Our latest survey shows the financial value that dairy farmers bring into each province, helping grow residents’ wealth even if they are not dairy farming themselves,” Dr Mackle says.
Dairy’s boost to rural economies is consistent with the national trend. National dairy export revenue soared by 30 percent to 17.6 billion in 2013-14, a Situation and Outlook 2014 report from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) says.
New Zealand’s dairy export revenue is expected to rise in the future, reaching $18.4 billion by the year ending 30 June 2018, based on a modest rise in domestic production, increasing international dairy prices, and a depreciating NZD, the MPI report says.
DairyNZ’s 2013-14 estimations shows New Zealand’s top provincial performer in dairying is Waikato, retaining its top spot from the previous year and earning $3.8 billion, followed by Canterbury with $2.77 billion, Southland with $1.72 billion then Taranaki with $1.44 billion.
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