Boutique wine businesses could pick up some cues from Philip and Terry Hall, an enterprising British couple who took over a small winery in the heart of Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels soon after the global economy started roughing up.

Singaporean Simon Israel is a new director at Fonterra, following the retirement of Ralph Waters.

Fonterra has appointed a new director.

Fonterra is renewing contracts for some of its organic dairy farmers in the middle and lower North Island, following a turnaround in its niche organics business.

A new rail link into Fonterra Darfield's site opened today and is expected to carry 200,000 metric tonnes of milk powder in its first year of operation.

MANY SHEEP and beef farmers will need to arrange bank help to carry them through the drought, says Professor Keith Woodford, Lincoln University.

Last week lamb prices remained stable with most at $4.30-4.40/kg (gross). Lamb space has still been pretty jammed up but there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel now.

A NEW supplier in the side-by-side farm utility market, Avatar, offers two models: an 800cc an 1100cc, both with EFI petrol engines, CVT auto transmissions and, most importantly for hill country farmers, engine braking.

WE ARE rapidly approaching the final quarter of a season many Australian dairy farmers will want to forget.

The 9200 bales on offer at the South Island sale this week saw an 89% clearance with a generally firm to slightly dearer market, NZ Wool Services International Ltd's general manager, John Dawson says.