The country's red meat sector may struggle to reach a goal set by the Government to double exports by 2034.

Data from NZ Beef + Lamb's found breeding ewe numbers have dropped by nearly two-percent, while beef cattle numbers were up 4.4-percent.

It reveals 2.6 million units of sheep and beef stock have been lost due to afforestation over the past eight years. 

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Ryan Bridge the rules don't extend to land where most beef and sheep farms are.

He says it appears they're siding with polluters over producers, because a simple solution would be to extend it to all land use classes.

LISTEN ABOVE

The country's red meat sector may struggle to reach a goal set by the Government to double exports by 2034.
Data from NZ Beef + Lamb's found breeding ewe numbers have dropped by nearly two-percent, while beef cattle numbers were up 4.4-percent.
It reveals 2.6 million units of sheep and beef stock have been lost due to afforestation over the past eight years.&nbsp;
Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Richard Dawkins told Ryan Bridge the rules don't extend to land where most beef and sheep farms are.
He says it appears they're siding with polluters over producers, because a simple solution would be to extend it to all land use classes.
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Richard Dawkins: Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chairperson on Sheep and Beef numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/744fb44d-5a7f-40b2-b72b-b339012e1aaa/transcript