HAWKE’S BAY dairy farmers Nick and Nicky Dawson are proud to stand up for their industry. The Patoka couple, who farm in an equity partnership on two farms northwest of Napier, were winners of the LIC Dairy Farm Award in this year’s East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

NGATI REREAHU has in the eyes of some thrown a last-minute spanner in the works of the never-ending Crafar farm sales saga.  They are seeking leave to appeal the Appeal Court’s decision that allows the farms to be sold to Shanghai Pengxin.

AUSTRALIAN DAIRY processor Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) ended the 2012 financial year 17.8% down on the previous year with a net operating profit after tax of $A15.2 million. But the result – $A3.3million less than 2011 – was stronger than the 20-30% reduction forecast in June.

DUTCH DAIRY co-op FrieslandCampina is uncertain about its 2012 full-year result despite improving half-year returns.  In its half-year results last month the co-op declines to make concrete statements; the economic outlook remains too uncertain, it says.