Fonterra opens organic milk supply to South Island dairy farmers
South Island dairy farmers will soon be able to supply organic milk to Fonterra.
Late last year saw a lifeline thrown to plus-sized tractor manufacturer Buhler Industries, via its acquisition by Turkish business ASKO Holding.
Başak Traktör, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASKO Holding, completed the previously announced acquisition of Buhler, which in turn is owned by Combine Factory Rostselmash Ltd – best known for building combine harvesters.
In addition, Başak Traktör acquired all the outstanding debt of Buhler Industries that was owed to parent company Rostselmash. The aggregate cash purchase price paid by ASKO Holding was CAD$60.5 million. The transaction, made up of CAD$28.2 million for the company shares, around $4 million in transaction costs and the remainder in settlement of the debt, with delivery of 96.7% of the Buhler company shares.
Best known for its Versatile and Farm King brands, since the company started operating around 50 years ago, Versatile has the claim of being the first North American manufacturer to mass produce and market articulated four-wheel drive tractors.
Its plant on Clarence Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada has built over 100,000 tractors. Today’s line-up includes articulating fourwheel drive tractors from 405 to 620hp, tracked units from 530 to 620hp and fixed-frame front-wheel assist tractor models from 175 to 365hp.
A complete line of tillage equipment is complemented by Farm King, whose products include grain augers, mowers, bale carriers, snowblowers and compact implements.
Voting has started for the renewal of DairyNZ's milksolids levy.
The most successful catchment groups in NZ are those that have 'a source to sea' approach.
Associate Agriculture Minister and Manawatu dairy farmer Andrew Hoggard says the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiated with India is not a bad deal and his party, Act, will support it when it goes before Parliament.
Newly released data from Environment Canterbury (ECan) Farm Environment Plan (FEP) audits are showing a dramatic lift in environmental performance across the region.
A solid recovery of global dairy prices this year makes a $9.50/kgMS milk price almost a shoo-in for this season.
As New Zealand marks the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 (IYWF 2026), industry leaders are challenging the misconception that women only support farming.

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