ASB has expanded its rural corporate business in the South Island with the appointment of two new rural corporate managers who both bring specialised regional knowledge to their roles.

When farmers from all over the North Island attend this week's Drought Shout in Mangatainoka, work is expected to be the last thing on their minds.

More than 150 people are expected to attend an information evening about G3 gold kiwifruit at Baypark on Wednesday night.

ANZ has won CANSTAR's Best Agribusiness Bank award for 2013, following a win in the inaugural competition last year.

DROUGHT RAVAGED dairy farmers should not expect immediate respite when the rain arrives.

ABOUT 20 calls a day are being received by the Waikato Rural Support Trust, mostly from young farmers concerned about their financial position.

Protest meetings in Victoria and South Australia, further planned demonstrations and a direct meeting have all left Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig unmoved.

THE THREAT of climate change to global agriculture will be the focus of an international conference in the United States this month.

THE 2013 year started with reasonable optimism. Dairy production was tracking nicely and dairy prices took off. For sheep there was hope that new Asian demand for lamb and wool would bring a move in the right direction. Meanwhile, the US drought last year meant demand for our beef, grains and produce were looking healthy. 

DROUGHT BEHAVIOUR renders deeply questionable the concept of co-operative companies being for the benefit and fair treatment of shareholders.