Continuing strong growth in Chinese demand for New Zealand beef is set support solid returns for the nation’s beef producers over the coming year.

New Zealand beef exports to China are booming, thanks to trade tensions and a disease outbreak in China’s pork industry.

A sudden drop in log prices which impacted the New Zealand commodity price index in July seems to have stabilised, says ANZ agriculture economist Susan Kilsby.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell will provide “a bit of colour” around divestments and reducing costs across the business on Sept 12, says chair John Monaghan.

If African swine fever (ASF) hits New Zealand it will “absolutely and totally” obliterate our pork industry, says Freedom Farms general manager Hilary Pearson.

Climate change policy and the emissions trading scheme (ETS) are farmers’ biggest concerns.

OPINION: Over the past week, Fonterra has been maligned by various commentators.

At least some not-bad news for Fonterra: the co-op has climbed to fourth-largest in the world’s dairy company rankings.

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The intended chairman of Farmlands Co-Operative, Rob Hewett, expects to take over a business in good heart and well-placed for the future.