THE HEAD of China’s largest dairy company says Fonterra’s false botulism scare underscores the importance of food safety.

FEDERATED FARMERS Dairy chairman Willie Leferink says he can understand Japanese dairy farmers’ opposition to free trade.

WANGANUI GARDEN CENTRE assistant Kelly Jean Kerr (pictured) wins 2013 Young Horticulturist of the Year and second place getter Wellington collections specialist Eliza Whalley also wins the AGMARDT Market Innovation Project.

HORTICULTURE NEW ZEALAND believes this country's ability to control regional biosecurity risk is woeful and there are few signs of any willingness to improve.

ZELDA DE VILLIERS, currently managing director of DeLaval NZ, will be the Dairy Women's Network's new chief executive.

DAIRYNZ CHAIRMAN John Luxton believes there is “genuineness” at Japanese government level about being part of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). And this is useful in that it will encourage the US to take a more holistic view of the proposal.

FONTERRA DIRECTOR John Monaghan, who has made himself available for a director’s position with meat cooperative Alliance, isn’t ruling out staying on with both cooperatives should Alliance’s board appoint him.

JAPANESE FARMERS, sceptical about a free trade deal, are banking on the Government to exclude the sector from the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

THE WINNER OF the Young Horticulturist of the Year will be announced on Thursday night at the Grand Final on Thursday (November 14) at Auckland's Rendezvous hotel.

Meat co-op Alliance Group has reported a net profit before restructuring costs and tax of $10.9 million for the year ending 30 September 2013. The co-op's turnover for the year topped $1.4 billion