Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will attend agricultural conferences on a four-day trip to Australia and China.

NZ Wool Services International's North Island offering of 5400 bales received strong support with 99% selling, chief executive John Dawson says.

There's no better recognised brand and trademark than JCB, famous for its bright yellow diggers.

China Dairy Corporation Ltd, an industry leader there, will list on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Even with a free trade agreement you can have "enormous challenges" if you don't have authorities on each side of the border supporting the passage of goods, Prime Minister John Key says.

Affluent markets are the key prize in a free trade agreement with the EU, says ag trade envoy Mike Petersen.

Fonterra's Chinese partner Beingmate last month agreed to set up a joint venture to buy the co-op's Darnum, Victoria, plant.

Shanghai Maling's investment of $360m into Silver Fern Farms in return for 50% ownership is a game changer into a complex market, says SFF chief executive Dean Hamilton.

Prime Minister John Key says the decision to reject a Chinese bid for Lochinvar Station was nothing to do with politics.

New Zealand is in the process of renegotiating the free trade agreement with China, Prime Minister John Key says.