BALLANCE AWARDS organiser, the New Zealand Farm Environment (NZFE) Trust, is gearing up for another big year as it strives to help farmers face the challenges of the future.

BLOODTHIRSTY ADULT TICKS are on a quest right now and farmers in the North Island in tick-prevalent areas should be checking cattle and talking to their veterinarian, say DairyNZ.

FIVE NEW NAMES have been added to the historic list of Nuffield Scholars in New Zealand.

CROSS-BRED WOOLD GROWERS have had only two years of profitable returns over the past decade, based on at an estimated average production cost of $4.50/kilo of greasy wool.

PROMINENT MAORI businessman Kingi Smiler, responsible for some breakthrough developments in Maori agri-business, has been named Agribusiness Person of the Year by Federated Farmers.

FONTERRA HAS BOUGHT a 6% stake in Australian dairy company Bega Cheese Ltd for AUS$46 million (NZ$52m).

MILK PACKAGING company Tetra Pak says demand for liquid dairy products is set to grow by 2.5% in the next three years.

THE GLOBAL dairy industry is seeing a reversal of fortune; after a lacklustre 2012, this year is shaping up to be an exceptional year, according to the International Dairy Federation.

WOMEN WORKING in the dairy industry are being urged to get their nominations in for the 2014 Dairy Woman of the Year award, which closes for entry on November 15, 2013.

For the 13th year in a row, Cloudy Bay shone the spotlight on Pinot Noir from New Zealand and around the world. Pinot at Cloudy Bay has become an iconic annual event, which sees guests travelling from around the world as well as the country.