THE VALUE of Australian lamb exports rose 12% last year to top A$1 billion for the first time.

GOAT MILK sales growth of 50% in two years is prompting the Dairy Goat Cooperative (Hamilton) to look for suppliers in Northland and Taranaki.

APPROVAL OF the Crafar farms sale to Chinese buyers by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has prompted many claims made in the battle to win the New Zealand public's hearts and minds.

The once proud and powerful Wool Board, now little more than a shameful memory, has been well picked over.

There are three aspects of any vintage that are of compelling interest to the industry –quality, size and the price of grapes. The recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Strategic Review re-emphasised the importance of the focus of the industry on quality wine production. To the extent quality is weather dependent, let's hope that the next 6-16 weeks delivers a typical NZ summer and autumn.

FARM UTILITIES new next month include CB Norwood's CF Moto Z6, a 600cc, fuel-injected side-by-side and a UTV – a utility 4x4 machine with a tipping deck, powered by a 500cc engine.

EXPECT THE global dairy market to grow strongly: that's the forecast from global lender Rabobank.

FARM UTILITIES new this month include CB Norwood's CF Moto Z6, a 600cc, fuel-injected side-by-side and a UTV – a utility 4x4 machine with a tipping deck, powered by a 500cc engine.

FONTERRA HAS just commissioned its second dairy farm in China and begun work on a third farm. The new farm is performing ahead of expectations, says the man in charge of the co-op's overseas farming ventures, Peter Moore.

FONTERRA’S RECENT decision to cut local milk prices was welcomed by various consumer groups and others – including many self-serving politicians – all around New Zealand.