New Zealand is among the top milk-producing countries around the world, and this is an indicator that New Zealand is truly an agricultural country. Some of the leading agricultural exports from New Zealand include dairy products, seafood, wood products, meat, among others with the main destination being China, Australia, Japan, the European Union and America. With this, it’s important to look at the various sectors in the agriculture industry in New Zealand with some emphasis on the most accomplished sectors in the industry.
Pastoral Farming
Beef and dairy farming are the most predominant agricultural activities in New Zealand where beef cattle farming is mostly concentrated in the Northlands, dairy cattle rearing in the regions of Taranaki and Waikato while sheep farming is mostly concentrated in the rural regions of New Zealand. The country is the sixth-largest milk producer in the world, and dairy farming is mostly concentrated in the hills and highlands which are wetter when compared to other regions in the country. In New Zealand cattle farming mostly relies on pasture grass and during the winter when grass takes a considerably longer time to grow, these animals are fed using silage or hay, which is readily available. Deer farming is becoming a popular farming option with the country being the largest exporter of farmed venison in the world. You will also find pig farms and chicken farms in the country which shows how farmers are diversifying in different farm produce.
Forest Farming
The expansion of New Zealand contributed to the growth of the milling industry in New Zealand where the long hardwood trees were used to make ship masts. Timber was the main building material in New Zealand during the building of the new colony. Nowadays, plantation forests are a common phenomenon in New Zealand with forestry contributing to around 4% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.