A change in how farmers are using their land - is having flow-on effects for meat processing plants

The Alliance Group called an all-staff meeting today to announce a proposal to close its Smithfield freezing works.

It would stop sheep meat, calf, and night shift venison processing after this season, and remaining venison at the end of the year, at the latest.

Group chair Mark Wynne says less livestock means less work for their freezing works.

He says carbon farming and the policy settings around that have had an impact - and in the North Island, dairy farms are being impacted by the switch into kiwifruit.