Restructuring of the South Island meat industry may not yet be over despite Silver Fern Farms yesterday closing its Canterbury sheep and lamb works with the loss of 249 jobs, the sixth plant it has closed, or downsized.
One in every four dollars earned from exports last year was generated by Fonterra.
The Commerce Commission is considering investigations into Fonterra for tactical milk pricing and the retail price of dairy products.
The Government's proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS) has become one of the most politicised debates in years. As business reporter Neal Wallace writes, the two sides to the debate cannot even agree whether the public knows how the scheme will work.
Backers of the merger between Silver Fern Farms and PGG-Wrightson appear to have a significant selling job ahead of them if they are to ensure they get the necessary support of 75% of voters, writes Agribusiness Editor Neal Wallace.
Taieri cattleman Doug Lindsay took honours at the recent Otago Southland beef competition held at the Alliance Mataura plant last week.
A Copworth flock from Gisborne farmers Kerry and Charlie Seymour has been named the country's top ewe hogget flock.
A merger between Silver Fern Farms and PGG-Wrightson would not compromise the meat processer's co-operative status.
Silver Fern Farms has called a meeting today of 300 workers at its Silverstream lamb cutting plant near Mosgiel, but the Otago Daily Times understands the plant is not going to close.
A meat industry ginger group has succeeded in forcing the two southern processing and marketing co-operatives to call special general meetings and discuss a merger.
A cloud hangs over the long-term future of the still-to-be-opened multimillion-dollar animal reproduction facility at Invermay, after AgResearch yesterday missed out on $18 million of public science funding it sought.
A Leading sharebroking firm has lent its support to PGG-Wrightson's proposal to invest $220 million of equity in meat processor Silver Fern Farms, but warns there are risks associated with the deal.
Alliance Group was focusing on its own business, and said it was not looking at merging with Silver Fern Farms because there was no proposal to do so.
Householders should get ready for a new round of food price rises.
One of the country's newest dairy companies has no sympathy for Fonterra having to supply competitors with milk, saying the dairy giant helped craft the rules.
Pieter Bloem's stock feed bill has risen 25% in the past year to $25,000 a month.
Wool Services International appears to have usurped the restructuring of the wool industry by planning to take its Purelana-branded wool strategy nationwide next season.
Meat production is the category for this year's Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition.
Quad bikes may not be a farmer's cheapest form of motorised transport.
Fonterra says it spent $14 million in the past season supplying subsidised milk to its competitors - and wants the rules changed.
