NEW ZEALAND’S farming future is not just black and white or – at least – just black and white dairy cows.

FOUR OUT of five of the latest Nuffield Scholarship winners are from the dairy industry.

MEAT CO-OP Alliance Group has reported a pre-tax profit of $17.6 million for 2013-14.

IRISH BEEF farmers are angry about a massive cattle price gap with the UK. Thousands of Irish farmers last week blocked abattoirs for 24 hours – the first such action in 15 years – protesting that they are not seeing the benefit of higher prices paid by UK markets for their produce: there’s a gap of $560 between prices in the UK and Ireland.

The US market continues its run of volatility this week as 90CL gains pace again, but 95CL continues to ease.

IF YOU haven’t already heard of CostCo, chances are you soon will. Two representatives of the giant US wholesale-style retailer visited New Zealand earlier this month looking to forge closer links with beef suppliers.

COW NUMBERS in the US are at their lowest for 63 years, contributing to a boom in beef export volumes and prices, says Beef + Lamb NZ chief economist Andrew Burrt.

Alliance director Dawn Sangster in June and July spent five weeks visiting key markets and customers for NZ meat:  USA, UK, China, Europe, Singapore and Indonesia. She’s now relaying her findings at meetings across New Zealand. Andrew Swallow reports.

FEEDING American dried distillers grains is unlikely to cause problems with China, say agribusiness specialists.

HIGH COMMODITY prices doubled the annual profit of corporate farmer Rural Equities Ltd in the last financial year.