AUSTRALIAN DAIRY, rice and wine exporters to Malaysia are the biggest winners in a free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries last month.

NEGOTIATIONS ON the Government’s biosecurity response agreement is far from over, says Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton.

“PLEASE HELP us” is the impassioned plea from Te Puke kiwifruit grower Rob Thode, who says growers feel abandoned.

A NEWLY opened Fonterra innovation centre in Shanghai will develop dairy products and ingredients for the China market.

Compared to last week's North Island auction on the May 17 the weaker New Zealand dollar and restricted supplies, coupled with renewed overseas buying, combined to lift prices for the 7885 bales of South Island wool on offer this week, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson advises.

The 7,900 bales of North Island wool on offer this week saw a 68.7% clearance with a generally firm to dearer trend, New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson reports.

IN JUST its first year Miraka, the new Maori-owned dairy company, is ahead of its production targets. The major shareholders in the plant are the Tuaropaki Trust, owners of the land where the plant is built, and Wairarapa Moana, owner of at least 10,000ha in the area north of  Taupo. 

NEW ZEALAND'S middle-of-the-road 'space' in export markets has a potential three billion people, Trade Minister Tim Groser says.

WITH GLOOMY trade news almost daily, farmers are likely to revise their farm budgets downwards, warns Federated Farmers.

It is estimated the dairy industry, including downstream activities such as marketing, wholesaling and transport, contributes about 3.4% to New Zealand’s GDP and $13.9 billion to our export earnings.