Prison farm lifting inmates' skills, confidence
Prison farm lifting inmates' skills, confidence
The massive eucalyptus tree at the gate gives the impression of being the sole guard as you enter the Otago Corrections Milton prison dairy farm.
Neal Wallace
Worldwide markets open for Dunedin honey
Worldwide markets open for Dunedin honey
The Dunedin-based New Zealand Honey company continues to go from strength to strength, picking up another award and securing a large contract with a South Korean retailer and distributor.
$170m for new dairy research
$170m for new dairy research
A $170 million dairy research programme aims to create the biggest change in the sector in decades, its backers say.
Similarities in sector programmes
Similarities in sector programmes
Debate continues on whether the new plate-to-pasture red meat programme is reinventing the wheel or an extension of Beef and Lamb New Zealand's central progeny test.
Central recovering after early pain
Central recovering after early pain
Land values may have halved and some businesses have been placed in receivership but the Central Otago wine industry appears to be over the worst.
Wine industry facing difficult few years
Wine industry facing difficult few years
The wine industry has endured a tough few years, but those tough times appear not to be over just yet. Agribusiness editor Neal Wallace reports overproduction of grapes and plummeting asset values will force vineyards and wineries to amalgamate, and some to fail.
Global dairy prices soar 16.9%
Global dairy prices soar 16.9%
Concerns global milk production could be hit by a low European grain harvest helped send dairy prices soaring 16.9% at Fonterra's globalDairyTrade internet auction on Wednesday.
Harvey leading new Wool Group
Harvey leading new Wool Group
Agri-business leader Colin Harvey has been appointed by the Government to head the Wool Group, a body charged with turning around the ailing strong wool industry.
Sales may depress farm values
Sales may depress farm values
There is concern the already subdued rural property market could be sent spiralling from an influx of forced sales after South Canterbury Finance was placed in receivership yesterday.
Skyline revenue up at $55.6m
Skyline revenue up at $55.6m
An increase in the number of Australian tourists has underpinned the sector and helped tourist operator Skyline report an improved annual result for the year ended March 31.
NZFSU directors advise not to sell
NZFSU directors advise not to sell
Shareholders have been advised for a second time not to sell their shares in New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay, with directors saying they are negotiating with a potential cornerstone shareholder.
New rent system for high country stations
New rent system for high country stations
The Government is changing the way it sets rents for pastoral lease farmland, shifting from a system based on land value to one based on productivity and economic conditions.
Dunedin laboratory to do tests for cancer
Dunedin laboratory to do tests for cancer
A laboratory under construction for Pacific Edge Ltd at the University of Otago signals the progression from research to commercial biomedical company.
Lift in wool sale prices good news for farmers
Lift in wool sale prices good news for farmers
Farmers received some good news last week with prices from crossbred and fine wool all lifting on recent sales.
Red-meat programme open to all
Red-meat programme open to all
The partners in a new plate-to-pasture red-meat programme say it is open to all animal breeds, even though they have financial links to Rissington and Kelso sheep and cattle genetics.
Intrigue as UAG pulls out of NZFSU bid
Intrigue as UAG pulls out of NZFSU bid
Attention is now turning to the identity of the mysterious suitor courting New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay after the withdrawal from the takeover race yesterday of Uruguayan-based Union Agriculture Group (UAG).
$22m profit exceeds Pyne Gould Corp forecast
$22m profit exceeds Pyne Gould Corp forecast
Investment company Pyne Gould Corporation has returned to profitability after being thrust into the red last year by a write-down of its property development book.
Way forward all about change
Way forward all about change
There is no simple answer to reverse the continual erosion of the sheep industry, but as agribusiness editor Neal Wallace reports, in the second part of a report on the sector's future, those solutions require a change in behaviour.
Credit downgrade not putting off investors, SCF says
Credit downgrade not putting off investors, SCF says
The search for a new investor in South Canterbury Finance had not been hampered by last week's Standard and Poor's credit downgrade, chief executive Sandy Maier said.
Improved result for NZFSU
Improved result for NZFSU
A boost in milk production and a tight rein on expenses ensured costs grew more slowly than revenue, helping New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay (NZFSU) to an improved end-of-year financial result.