Asia may not be far from Queensland’s doorstep but the challenges of catering to the export market are great, says an Australian dairy leader.

Queensland farmers have received a sobering message about the effects of a supermarket war on the price of milk and dairy products.

The past year has tested many assumptions made about the world dairy market, most importantly that there was a once-bottomless market being driven by the urbanisation miracle occurring in China.

Entrepreneur Diane Foreman, known to many as the ice cream lady, has fired a broadside at Fonterra saying “it needs a kick up the backside”.

The latest GlobalDairyTrade results showed another move in the right direction and cause for cautious optimism, but “not time to pop the champagne yet”.

The 7,500 bales of North Island wools on offer this week saw a 97% clearance and a generally dearer market, reports NZWSI marketing executive, Malcolm Ching.

The saying goes “the only good thing to come out of Birmingham (UK) is the M6 motorway”, but just a few miles down the road in the heart of the Industrial Revolution, is Solihull, the home of the Land Rover.

In the last two weeks I’ve had the good fortune to catch up with hundreds of farmers nationwide as they’ve turned out to see what Beef + Lamb New Zealand is planning in the next six year levy cycle.

US beef and pork producers are bemoaning their lack of access to the huge Chinese market.

Zespri is doing more business with Japan this season than ever before, says Dave Courtney, general manager, grower and external relations.