Fonterra's opening forecast farmgate milk price is $7kg/MS for the 2013/14 season - up $1.20 on the current season.

The local market lifted significantly for the 10,400 bales on offer at the South Island sale this week, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.

A resolution has been agreed which should see authorities clearing New Zealand meat exports to China from next week, Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy says.

'Mixed messages' about meat blocked at the Chinese border adds to the suspicion there's more to the issue than the Government is letting on, says Labour Primary Industries spokesman Damien O'Connor.

SYNLAIT MILK is to spend $15 million on upgrading its special milks drier at Dunsandel to further tap the $15 billion a year demand for infant formula in China.

INFANT FORMULA made from A2 milk will be launched on the New Zealand and Australia markets later this year.

Federated Farmers is hopeful an administrative issue affecting New Zealand meat exports to China will soon be resolved.

THERE’S PLENTY of money out in the global economy right now looking for a “safe” home, Westpac economist Nathan Penny says.

An industry-backed trip to Asia has given Otago farmers Blair and Jane Smith a deeper understanding of the challenges facing marketers of New Zealand meat and dairy products.

A slightly weaker NZ dollar, restricted wool supply and recent dearer wool markets in other countries aided the lift for most types at this weeks' South Island auction, says WSI's marketing executive, Paul Steel.