APPROVAL OF the Crafar farms sale to Chinese buyers by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has prompted many claims made in the battle to win the New Zealand public's hearts and minds.

The once proud and powerful Wool Board, now little more than a shameful memory, has been well picked over.

There are three aspects of any vintage that are of compelling interest to the industry –quality, size and the price of grapes. The recent PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Strategic Review re-emphasised the importance of the focus of the industry on quality wine production. To the extent quality is weather dependent, let's hope that the next 6-16 weeks delivers a typical NZ summer and autumn.

FARM UTILITIES new next month include CB Norwood's CF Moto Z6, a 600cc, fuel-injected side-by-side and a UTV – a utility 4x4 machine with a tipping deck, powered by a 500cc engine.

EXPECT THE global dairy market to grow strongly: that's the forecast from global lender Rabobank.

FARM UTILITIES new this month include CB Norwood's CF Moto Z6, a 600cc, fuel-injected side-by-side and a UTV – a utility 4x4 machine with a tipping deck, powered by a 500cc engine.

FONTERRA HAS just commissioned its second dairy farm in China and begun work on a third farm. The new farm is performing ahead of expectations, says the man in charge of the co-op's overseas farming ventures, Peter Moore.

FONTERRA’S RECENT decision to cut local milk prices was welcomed by various consumer groups and others – including many self-serving politicians – all around New Zealand.

THE OPERATOR OF New Zealand's first independent product development spray dryer says interest is high among dairy industry players.

An after-tax profit of $1.08 million for the six months to December 31, 2011, is ahead of budget, says New Zealand Wool Services International Ltd (WSI).