Funds left over from wool levies collected by Meat & Wool New Zealand – now Beef + Lamb New Zealand - have supported the development of a new fabric that blends waste rice straw and New Zealand strong wool.

AUSTRALIA IS buying New Zealand stock in its struggle to keep up with demand for export heifers particularly to China.

Primary sector export revenue is expected to decline in 2012/13, a Ministry for Primary Industries report shows.

When compared to last weeks sale in the North Island, wool was generally dearer at yesterday's sale despite a slight increase in the NZ dollar.

The People's Republic of China's Government of Guizhou Province and New Zealand's Te Puni Kokiri (Ministry of Maori Development) have launched an international agricultural exchange programme.

THE WOOL SALE held in the South Island today (Thursday) comprised 10,334 bales of which 7, 587 reached market reserves or above, New Zealand Wool Services International Limited's general manager, John Dawson reports.

AUSTRALIAN DAIRY, rice and wine exporters to Malaysia are the biggest winners in a free trade agreement (FTA) signed between the two countries last month.

NEGOTIATIONS ON the Government’s biosecurity response agreement is far from over, says Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton.

“PLEASE HELP us” is the impassioned plea from Te Puke kiwifruit grower Rob Thode, who says growers feel abandoned.

A NEWLY opened Fonterra innovation centre in Shanghai will develop dairy products and ingredients for the China market.