DAIRY TECHNOLOGY designer and manufacturer, Waikato Milking Systems, is looking forward to a productive 2014, with new trade opportunities opening up.

THE 12,500 BALES of North Island wool on offer this week generally lifted to come into line with South Island levels. There was a 93% clearance rate, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson, says.

THE RABOBANK GLOBAL cattle price index has risen by 6% since June, driven by lower-than-expected beef supply in the main exporting countries and strong Asian demand.

SUPPLIERS TO Hawkes Bay-based Lean Meats' Atkins Ranch Producer Group are set to get a $3.89 per lamb Christmas present in the last week of December.

HOKITIKA-BASED cooperative Westland Milk Products has lifted its payout forecast for the current season 30c to a range of $7.90-8.30/kg milksolids.

STRONG INTERNATIONAL demand and tight local supply augur well for beef producers in 2014, says a new report by Rabobank.

NEW ZEALAND ONION growers are gearing up for export markets across Asia.

COULD FONTERRA, and indeed other processors, be about to announce a Christmas bonus in the form of a raised payout forecast?

WHILE IT IS good news the inquiry into the whey protein incident concludes there was no failure with New Zealand's dairy regulatory system it confirms what we already knew, says Michael Barnett, chairman of the NZ Infant Formula Exporters Association.

THE GOVERNMENT has accepted in principle all 29 recommendations in the first stage of the Government inquiry into the whey protein concentrate contamination incident.