If there is one man in the country that knows all there is to know about the Air New Zealand Wine Show – it's Mark Compton, who has been involved for every one of the past 25 years. He was an Associate Judge back in 1987 and 25 years later, he is still there as Chief Steward.

The New Zealand Dollar has been New Zealand's domestic currency since a switch from the Pound in July 1967. Initially its value was pegged to the movements of the US Dollar; however on the 4th March 1985 the Kiwi was set free and entered the open market at a value of 0.4444.

While no figures are available in New Zealand, the cost of vine trunk disease in California alone is estimated at US$260 million a year. Given diseases such as Eutypa Dieback and Botryospaeria are found throughout New Zealand, it is reasonable to assume that the diseases are equally costly to our industry.

It has become a tradition established by Terry Dunleavy, to honour someone or something within the wine indsutry for their commitment and dedication to the betterment of New Zealand Wine.

‘WISH ME luck as you wave me goodbye’ go the words of the old song. 

PLAN LAMB grazing and monitoring when weaning them to minimise the worm impact once they're off their mum, says parasite specialist Trevor Cook, of Totally Vets and Wormwise.

MOST EVENINGS I get calls from concerned Fonterra shareholders asking what progress we are making on getting another vote on TAF (trading among farmers). We are steadily adding signatures to petitions making that call, but from the board, as yet, there's been no signal they'll agree to it.

THE LATEST Clean Streams Accord report shows dairy farmers are heading in the right direction environmentally, says Fonterra, but Fish and Game has questioned the report’s credibility.

MAF DIRECTOR-general Wayne McNee says he's asked for a detailed review of last month's strawberry growing kit biosecurity incident but the response to the recall has been blasted by Hort NZ.

FEDERATED FARMERS Southland is demanding Environment Southland defer implementation of new rules making dairy grazing a discretionary activity.