New Zealand Wool Services International CEO John Dawson says the strengthened New Zealand dollar has negatively impacted at this week's South Island sale with most types easing in local terms.

Dean Hamilton, SFF chief executive says the Shanghai Maling transaction has significant financial upside compared to the sketchy details in the mystery underwrite proposal put forward, with little real detail, by shareholder John Cochrane.

The recent media statements from shareholder John Cochrane are "a total unknown and should be treated with extreme caution" says Silver Fern Farms.

It would be fair to say the Avatar is a new name to the global market for UTV's, but that could be about to change.

As Australian politicians haggle over endorsing a free trade agreement with China, farmers are warning that failure to ratify the deal will cost them up to A$18 billion over 10 years.

A Chinese corporation has made $73 million sales within 12 months of launching its New Zealand infant formula.

It's too early to write off China, says Hayden Dillon, head of corporate agribusiness for Crowe Horwath.

Businesses in rural areas are feeling the effects of a marked slowdown in the agricultural sector, according the latest MYOB Business Monitor.

Small Waikato milk processor Tatua's payout has again left other dairy co-ops trailing behind.

Since the SFF/Shanghai Maling deal was announced earlier last month some SFF shareholders, and other critics, have expressed concerns about the implications of foreign investment.