THE MEAT INDUSTRY Excellence (MIE) group has welcomed the appointment of James Parsons as the chair-elect of Beef & Lamb NZ (B&L) but says he will have "his work cut out".

THE HUNT IS ON for New Zealand's top Farmax rural consultants in the company's inaugural Consultant of the Year Awards.

THERE ARE NEARLY 30 million less hungry people in the world in 2013, compared to last year, says FAO director-general Jose Graziano da Silva.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY research has found a wide variation in the number of viable and living micro-organisms in probiotic products used on dairy farms.

A GOOD WINTER and a favourable weather outlook for spring have boosted confidence across the New Zealand beef industry, particularly after the drought, says Rabobank.

SYNLAIT MILK has helped the local Volunteer Fire Brigade in Dunsandel by funding a new emergency response vehicle that will support the community.

CANTERBURY MILK nutrition company Synlait Milk is supportive of the investment by AgResearch in its campus infrastructure.

ALLIANCE GROUP will launch a new season programme exporting Pure South lamb to Brazil – the world's sixth largest economy and hosts of the 2016 Olympics - following a successful trial last year.

WAIKATO DAIRY processor Tatua's payout for the 2012-13 season is $7.40/kgMS, described as "stunning" by a Federated Farmers member and Tatua shareholder.

PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Minister Nathan Guy says rural communities have bounced back strongly after this year's drought, with the official declaration ending today (September 30).