Yili opens 'Dairy Silicon Valley'
Chinese dairy giant Yili has launched a multi-billion dollar industrial park in Hohhot, China.
It was 25 years ago that Milfos International was formed and this week the company will celebrate the milestone with an Australasian dealer conference followed by an evening celebration with service partners, suppliers and business people from around New Zealand.
Philip and Nicola Locke started the business in 1987 and today it is jointly owned with Jamie Mikkelson and Rick Staheli. The business started out manufacturing parts for milking systems and now exports to more than 20 countries around the globe. Today the business offers a wide range of high tech milking solutions for farmers milking cows, sheep and goats. The business has company owned entities in Australia, the UK and Ireland.
The business, located in Hamilton and employing over 120 staff, continues to experience significant growth. In 2011 the company won the Gallagher Waikato Business of the Year award for large enterprises employing over 50 staff.
Milfos Managing Director Jamie Mikkelson says, "We are very excited about reaching this milestone and celebrating it with our partners. It is a time to reflect on our short history, celebrate our successes and plot the way forward as a group. We are incredibly proud of our achievements and the hard work that our team puts in every day serving our customers".
According to ASB, Fonterra's plan to sell it's Anchor and Mainlands brands could inject $4.5 billion in additional spending into the economy.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.
The climate of uncertainty and market fragmentation that currently characterises the global economy suggests that many of the European agricultural machinery manufacturers will be looking for new markets.
Dignitaries from all walks of life – the governor general, politicians past and present, Maoridom- including the Maori Queen, church leaders, the primary sector and family and friends packed Our Lady of Kapiti’s Catholic church in Paraparaumu on Thursday October 23 to pay tribute to former prime Minister, Jim Bolger who died last week.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay is encouraging farmers, growers, and foresters not to take unnecessary risks, asking that they heed weather warnings today.
With nearly two million underutilised dairy calves born annually and the beef price outlook strong, New Zealand’s opportunity to build a scalable dairy-beef system is now.

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