Synlait Milk is bidding to buy rival South Canterbury dairy company New Zealand Dairies after yesterday announcing the purchase of Oceania Dairy, which has abandoned plans to build a plant at Glenavy, on the Waitaki Plains.
The economy will receive a $900 million injection from soaring global dairy prices, Fonterra having yesterday announced a record forecast payout range of $7.90 to $8 a kilogram of milk solids for this season before company retentions.
Mt Pisa station, one of Central Otago's most prominent high country stations, is under offer from a potential buyer.
Shareholders look likely to miss out on a financial windfall now there is little chance of a bidding war for rural servicing company PGG Wrightson.
R&R Sport is a classic Dunedin success story but one which, in typical southern fashion, flies below the radar. Business reporter Neal Wallace profiles the winner of the business skills retail category at the 2010 Otago Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards.
Store stock prices appear to have settled at levels much higher than last year, but agents say prices are not out of control.
There are few farms in Otago Murray McLean has not visited in his 44 years in the stock and station and livestock drafting industries.
Westpac's South Island head of business banking, John Brophy, says Westpac has money to lend. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Westpac is hoping to grow its market share by helping southern businesses looking for money so they can help rebuild Christchurch after last year's earthquake and aftershocks.
Farmers cancelled $1.3 million of share applications with Wool Partners Co-operative in recent weeks, after rumours circulated incorrectly claiming the money would be spent paying for the capital raising process.
The 2000 farmers who supported the failed bid to form the Wool Partners Co-operative could end up owning all or part of a wool company.
Dunedin businessman Lindsay Brown was last night made a Fellow of the Institute of Directors in Dunedin in recognition of his experience and service to business.
Dairy farmers deny they are creaming it from soaring domestic fresh milk prices, as predictions of further price rises emerge.
Global dairy prices rose a further 3.9% at yesterday's internet auction, fuelled by a seemingly insatiable international appetite for dairy products and disrupted supplies.
The expected failure of farmers to commit sufficient wool to a new marketing co-operative puts the onus on the existing players to make a step-change to an industry which is failing.
The price of farms in Otago has almost doubled in the past year but the data is tempered by the small number being sold.
The attention of the world's dairy markets will be focused on today's globalDairyTrade event after news cyclones, floods and bush fires have cut Australian milk production by at least 100 million litres this season.
Union delegates will meet at the Mataura freezing works today to decide on a timeframe for members to vote on a proposed new employment contract.
Claims the Labour Party is considering a return to centralised wage fixing is being dismissed by the Council of Trade Unions.
A slump in December quarter retail sales confirms retailers' impressions of a lean Christmas, but economists are still confident the economy has better times ahead.
World sheep meat may be in short supply, but there are signs sheep farming countries are starting to ramp up production.
