HISTORICALLY, THE commodities New Zealand exports tend to come under pressure during periods of global duress and uncertainty. Based on this, you'd currently expect New Zealand's key commodity exports to be falling in price. Certainly, the past few months have seen commodity prices ease, but from extraordinary highs, and not as much as other markets.

FARMER CONFIDENCE has waned slightly in the past quarter.

Lincoln University appears to be running the gauntlet of a green-lobby backlash by awarding an international alumni medal to a palm oil company chief executive.

ABOVE AVERAGE production and prices bode well for pastoral agriculture in 2011/12, says MAF on releasing its half year update of its annual Situation and Outlook for New Zealand Agriculture and Forestry (SONZAF) report.

STRONG STORE lamb prices present a huge opportunity for breeders to raise flock performance, says a Wairarapa farm consultant.

A LEADING economist is predicting the New Zealand dollar to drop buffering farmers from lower commodity prices in the coming year.