Emotions and values now come first in water quality assessment and science comes second, says a water quality specialist with DairyNZ, Tom Stephens.

The man often referred to in Maralborough as Mr Montana, has finally retired after 38 years working for the region’s largest wine company.

The Ministry of Primary Industries’ own tests and controls of raw milk safety on farms overlay those of the dairy companies, but the ministry works also with the companies.

The former general manager of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders Association has pleaded guilty to fleecing the body of $312,000.

Small dairy companies are confident that existing security measures at their processing plants will keep the 1080 threat at bay.

The Meat Industry Excellence Group hopes its much-vaunted report on the meat sector, due for release today (March 17), will put a rocket under changes to the industry.

Synlait Milk is confident that its food safety systems and security standards protect the integrity of its products.

State farmer Landcorp is reviewing its full-year profit forecast in the face of a lower milk payout and dry weather.

The lower dollar is one of the main influences behind the present buoyant wool market but there are other positive indicators, says NZ Wool Services International’s Purelana manager Malcolm Ching.

The exceptionally low milk price has dealt a blow to Landcorp, forcing it to post a half year profit to December 31, 2014 of just $1 million, down 92% on the same period in the previous year.