Helping dairy women understand the ins and outs of purchasing stock is the focus of a series of practical workshops being held across the North and South Islands in February and March.

THE GLOBAL economic crisis is expected to knock $1.7 billion off the value of New Zealand's primary exports this season.

THE GLOBAL economic crisis is expected to knock $1.7 billion off the value of New Zealand's primary exports this season.

TWO YEARS ago the Te Aroha, Waikato, meat processing plant burned down, a major tragedy for a small town in a productive farming area.

Weaker economic conditions, combined with dry seasonal conditions have impacted New Zealand farmer confidence, particularly in the sheep and beef sector.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand, is ramping up support for the Agrecovery rural recycling programme.

Total primary sector export revenue for the year to June 2013 is forecast to be around $27.5 billion, down 5% on the previous year's income ($29.2 billion), says the Ministry for Primary Industries.

CONVERTING A corner of a large-scale Southland sheep and beef unit to dairy has made the whole business more sustainable, say Andrew and Heather Tripp.

LACK OF understanding of what it costs farms and processors to produce food is “one of our biggest challenges,” says Grassland Association president Jacqueline Rowarth.

Despite lower farm sales in the three months to the end of October compared to last year, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) expects a lift this month.