ONE OF the world’s biggest dairy companies has broken ground on a site for a factory in the South Island.

THE MAORI dairy company Miraka, at Taupo, stole the limelight on John Key’s trade mission to China last week in Shanghai when it signed a joint venture deal to produce UHT milk for the new owners of the Crafar farms, Shanghai Pengxin.

DIFFERENT PRIMARY industries may need to work together to reduce shipping costs, says Pipfruit New Zealand chairwoman Nadine Tunley, Nelson.

Boutique wine businesses could pick up some cues from Philip and Terry Hall, an enterprising British couple who took over a small winery in the heart of Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels soon after the global economy started roughing up.

Singaporean Simon Israel is a new director at Fonterra, following the retirement of Ralph Waters.

Fonterra has appointed a new director.

Fonterra is renewing contracts for some of its organic dairy farmers in the middle and lower North Island, following a turnaround in its niche organics business.

A new rail link into Fonterra Darfield's site opened today and is expected to carry 200,000 metric tonnes of milk powder in its first year of operation.

MANY SHEEP and beef farmers will need to arrange bank help to carry them through the drought, says Professor Keith Woodford, Lincoln University.

Last week lamb prices remained stable with most at $4.30-4.40/kg (gross). Lamb space has still been pretty jammed up but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel now.