A GROUP of UK sheep and beef farmer representatives say they share New Zealand farmers' concerns about profitability in the sector, but are optimistic for the future.

AUSTRALIAN SHEEPMEAT exports to China during the 2012-13 financial year leapt 91% to a record 69,860 tonnes, boosted by a more than five-fold year-on-year lift in mutton exports to 35,867 tonnes.

GLOBAL DAIRY players don’t come much bigger and more powerful than Royal FrieslandCampina.

FONTERRA HAS appointed two new members to its executive management team.

Trade Minister Tim Groser has confirmed New Zealand is working closely with our trading partners to keep them informed of the potential contamination of some products.

Fonterra is in damage control as its export markets react to potentially contaminated whey protein concentrate ending up in infant formula and other dairy products.

A dirty pipe at Fonterra's Hautapu factory in Waikato threatens to knock the co-op's infant formula business on the head.

The 7000 bales of South Island wools on offer this week saw a slightly easier market overall with an 82% clearance, reports NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson.

Fonterra has lifted its forecast farmgate milk price for the 2013-14 season by 50 cents to $7.50/kgMS.

The official cash rate (OCR) has been left unchanged at 2.5%.