Emissions from the Pukeuri meat processing plant boiler might have to be lowered by Alliance Group if a resource consent is granted to North Otago's biggest employer.
Alliance Group is proposing to close its Sockburn plant in Christchurch at the end of the 2012 processing season, affecting about 250 jobs.
Alliance Group expects world meat protein markets to remain strong next year, with lamb prices expected to stay at "$100 plus".
Mataura meat workers have voted by a slim majority to accept new conditions that will cut pay and alter conditions, but they are discussing details of the plans with the plant's owners.
Alliance Group has weathered what chairman Owen Poole called a challenging year to September 30, to retain its solid financial position.
Yet again, the two southern meat co-operatives are talking at, rather than to, each other about merging.
Farmers are tiring of the constant sniping between the two southern meat co-operatives, but they also appear to be entrenching themselves in support of their respective companies.
The country's largest farmer says there is nothing to fear from an investigation into the merits of a merger of the two meat co-operatives.
Sheep and beef farmers are forgoing $100 million a year in savings by not merging the co-operatives Silver Fern Farms and Alliance Group and changing the way meat is marketed, an industry leader says.
