The closure of Alliance Group's Smithfield meatworks in Timaru has cast a spotlight on the broader challenges facing New Zealand's sheep farming industry.
Federated Farmers Meat & Wool Chair Toby Williams sheds light on the factors driving this decline and calls for urgent industry innovation.
He explains how the closure will impact 600 workers, reflecting deeper issues like the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and falling sheep and wool values.
Williams argues that the shift towards forestry for carbon credits is exacerbating the situation, stressing that this isn't just a government problem but an industry-wide issue.
Listen to the full chat between Toby Williams and Dominic George above.
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