Beef processing plants are firing up for the start of the new season but the stock are few and far between.
NZX Agrifax primary industry analyst Ivan Luketina said plants nationwide were slowly getting into gear.
"Throughput remains relatively low but numbers should start steadily increasing in both islands through until the end of the year," Mr Luketina said.
In the grain market, dairy farmers were demanding barley ahead of wheat, particularly in Canterbury, he said.
"This is due to a combination of the assumed short supply of barley, and a preference by dairyfarmers for barley, which has meant that the usual wheat premium has been eroded."
Wheat prices had remained relatively steady, while barley continued to strengthen.
