A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline.  

Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014.  

The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period.  

Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge.  

He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A tough winter ahead for meat processing plants as livestock numbers continue to decline. &nbsp;
Latest figures from Stats NZ show a 21% drop in sheep numbers over the past 10 years – a total decline of 6.2 million sheep since 2014. &nbsp;
The number of dairy cattle also fell 13% over the same period. &nbsp;
Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair Toby Williams told Ryan Bridge keeping livestock processing plants open, profitable, and running efficiently is a significant challenge. &nbsp;
He says big plants are struggling to get numbers of livestock through, with close to million less lambs to process this year than last.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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

Toby Williams: Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair on the decline in livestock numbers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/41f51e33-eb0a-48c1-b4b3-b2d40176fa7a/transcript

New Zealand's economy is heading into the current Middle East crisis noticeably weaker than expected.

GDP's risen just 0.2 percent in the December quarter - well below many forecasts.

It's also risen just 0.2 percent across the whole of last year, after growth in the September quarter was revised down.

ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan how the Reserve Bank will react to this news. 

New Zealand's economy is heading into the current Middle East crisis noticeably weaker than expected.
GDP's risen just 0.2 percent in the December quarter - well below many forecasts.
It's also risen just 0.2 percent across the whole of last year, after growth in the September quarter was revised down.
ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan how the Reserve Bank will react to this news.&nbsp;

Matt Gault: ANZ Senior Economist on the Q4 GDP result

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/4a53d8db-72c0-4f12-9788-b412011efad5/transcript

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock. 

A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her thoughts on why we're importing so much processed foods. 

ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan what the disappointing GDP result means for the state of our economy. 

Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on prices of gas and oil rising sharply due to strikes on Iran's South Pars field and the King's opened the world's longest coastal footpath which stretches around the entire coast of England. 

Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.          

LISTEN ABOVE  

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday 20th of March 2025, the government's acknowledged a "big shift" in the government's messaging around the war in the Middle East, Waitomo Group CEO Simon Parham, tells Ryan what oil company's are doing to assist with the oil shock.&nbsp;
A New study highlights just how unhealthy our eating has gotten, Nutritionist Nikki Hart shares her thoughts on why we're importing so much processed foods.&nbsp;
ANZ Senior Economist Matt Gault tells Ryan what the disappointing GDP result means for the state of our economy.&nbsp;
Plus, UK Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on prices of gas and oil rising sharply due to strikes on Iran's South Pars field and the King's opened the world's longest coastal footpath which stretches around the entire coast of England.&nbsp;
Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Full Show Podcast: 20 March 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c075d406-358e-4299-9c3e-b412011a9503/transcript

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?

Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war?

He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen. 

He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back in his President. 

He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official.

He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.

He’s no snowflake. He just doesn’t want the US getting bogged down in wars it can’t win. 

It’s one thing to bomb the hell out of a country. But when the dust settles, the troops go home, the victory banners are unfurled, then what?

In Iraq, a power vacuum and ISIS.

So, in calling this out, in quitting, is Joe Kent a hero or a traitor? 

The FBI’s now investigating him, but that’s not unusual. Look at Jerome Powell (Fed Chair) John Bolton… right down to Jimmy Kimmel… who was investigated by the US TV regulator after criticising Trump.

Only time will tell whether there was a pressing need for starting this war we’re all paying for.

But history tells us it won’t end just because a US President says so.

Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?
Is he the guy speaking truth in the fog of war?
He spoke to Tucker Carlson, and the podcast is worth a listen.&nbsp;
He’s a MAGA guy. He was a Trump guy. But this week he turned his back in his President.&nbsp;
He quit his job as America’s top counter-terrorism official.
He was a soldier. He served in Iraq. His wife was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.
He’s no snowflake. He just doesn’t want the US getting bogged down in wars it can’t win.&nbsp;
It’s one thing to bomb the hell out of a country. But when the dust settles, the troops go home, the victory banners are unfurled, then what?
In Iraq, a power vacuum and ISIS.
So, in calling this out, in quitting, is Joe Kent a hero or a traitor?&nbsp;
The FBI’s now investigating him, but that’s not unusual. Look at Jerome Powell (Fed Chair) John Bolton… right down to Jimmy Kimmel… who was investigated by the US TV regulator after criticising Trump.
Only time will tell whether there was a pressing need for starting this war we’re all paying for.
But history tells us it won’t end just because a US President says so.

Ryan Bridge: Is Joe Kent this week’s voice of reason?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/b7f3f801-cf44-43e6-88b2-b412011c2398/transcript

Toby Williams: Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Chair on the decline in livestock numbers

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