Neal Wallace

Misunderstood by many in the West, the Middle East is proving a lucrative and growing dairy market for Fonterra. Agribusiness editor Neal Wallace reports that brands such as Anchor, Anlene and Anmum are leading that growth.

There were signs earlier this year that all was not well at Rural Portfolio Investments, which on Monday was placed in receivership.

The war-torn countries of Iraq and Somalia are proving to be some of Fonterra's fastest growing dairy markets.

For 56 years, the Bloem family have farmed pigs on Otago Peninsula, and for almost all of that time they say they had no complaints from neighbours.

Fonterra has taken ownership of its first Middle East dairy factory, in a move the company says will allow it to serve a potential market of nearly $13 billion in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, while also signalling a subtle change in its strategy.

East Otago may not be considered classic merino sheep country, but that has not stopped Lindsay and Margaret Dempster from winning this year's prestigious Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards for merino fleece.

A hiccup following a change of plough has returned Clinton ploughman Scott McKenzie to the top of his game.

An agribusiness consortium has received tentative approval from the Government's Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) for a project to try to replicate aspects of the dairy industry and transform the meat industry.