Australia's milk production is making a steady climb with total output for 2011-12 forecast to be between 9.4 and 9.5 billion litres, up on last season's total of 9.1 billion litres.

THE NEW Zealand dollar's strength is throwing a dampener on heady days for beef.

New Zealand’s competitive advantage as the world’s largest and most efficient producer of velvet is being frittered away by market ill discipline and an obsession with competition at the farm-gate, says a producer-owned co-operative.