In February the management team at Lincoln University were wringing their hands as the season appeared to be turning to custard, but at the latest field day the tone was much more upbeat.

To call it a perfect storm trivialises the difficulties primary producers are facing in the balance between environment, welfare (human and animal) and economics. 

Farmers are anxious about what the health and safety reform will bring and the new challenges that lie on the horizon. 

Entries are now open for the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition and top butchers are encouraging their peers to enter.

Australia's largest dairy co-op has voted to adopt Fonterra’s TAF-style capital structure.

Australian sheep farmers are banking on strong prices lamb in the coming years, but are warning of headwinds.

Kiwifruit exporters are planning more intensive marketing than they have ever before tried in Australia, to stimulate demand in a maturing market.

The dairy industry is facing a “perfect storm” but innovative business people on farms will carry New Zealand through the cycle, the NZ Dairy Industry Awards final was told.

Milk New Zealand Holding Ltd, which took over the Crafar Farms, has been lauded as a “great example” of the success of foreign investment in NZ at the NZ China Trade Association (NZCTA) Business Awards.

New Zealand sheep now tally just 29.8 million – a number not seen since during the Second World War.