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Reconsider Crafar farms deal, Government told

A new recommendation on the Crafar farms deal is expected soon following a High Court decision.

Open Country Dairy loss disappointing

The country's second-biggest dairy processor has posted a $29.5m annual loss, a performance it calls ''extremely disappointing''.

Fonterra says two recalls unrelated

Fonterra says two voluntary recalls of its products in five months because of metal contamination are not related.

Winning on fruit machines

Enzafoods' added-value products may spell salvation for beleaguered fruitgrowers who have traditionally exported their whole-fruit crops.

Swiss couple outlay $2m for vineyard

A Swiss couple have taken over Kina Beach Vineyard in the Tasman district and plan to expand its profile and production.

Two more vineyards forced to sell

Two more Awatere Valley vineyards are up for mortgagee and receivership sale

Zespri defends South Korea, China record

As Zespri's critics capitalise on an industry disease crisis to go for its throat, the national kiwifruit marketer is defending its sales record in China and South Korea.

Bulk wine export figures up

Kiwi bulk wine exports increased last year, but the amount of bulk wine flowing out of the country appears to be slowing.

Fonterra recalls butter after metal found

Fonterra has recalled two ranges of butter after receiving complaints that metal objects were found in the products.

NZ's best farm land 'already sold off'

Concern foreign buyers cherry-picking farms

The best of New Zealand's farmland has been cherry-picked by cash-rich foreign buyers, opponents of overseas ownership claim.

Night milking for sleepy time

Specialised milk collected from cows at night is claimed to help people with sleep disorders.

Best farmland 'already sold off'

The amount of productive farmland being taken out of Kiwi hands each year has dropped off sharply in the past decade, newly released figures show.

Crafar Farms: Judge ponders 'significant benefit'

OPINION: Sir Michael Fay's High Court bid to block the $200 million sale of Crafar Farms to Chinese firm Shanghai Pengxin looks destined to fall flat.

Zespri deputy won't step aside

ANDREA FOX - © Fairfax NZ News

Zespri deputy chairman Peter McBride says there is "no reason" for him to step aside while an independent investigation probes an allegation he is linked to unlicensed planting of a new gold fruit variety.

Government blamed for Psa entry

The Psa-V disease is NZ's biggest agricultural disaster – and the Government must take responsibility, say organisers of a meeting to demand compensation.

Fonterra taps NZX to run farmer share trading

The NZX is to run Fonterra's farmer share trading scheme, which is expected to launch in November.

Milk price inquiry to continue

Scrutiny of how the price of milk is set in NZ is cranking up again.

LIC earnings rise amid dairy confidence

Dairy farmer cooperative LIC saw interim revenue and underlying earnings lift, thanks to demand for its solutions to make dairying more efficient and productive.

Another shot fired in milk price battle

Slashing the price of milk by a boutique Hamilton food store is a gimmick which could backfire on customers, according to a supermarket boss.

BayWa extends deal for T&G

German company BayWa has extended its offer for Turners & Growers for a second time as acceptances trickle in.

Optimism for booming sheep industry

Sheep are becoming the new gold, says PGG Wrightson Waikato auction sales manager Neil Lyons.

Possum fur prices boost industry

A booming possum trade in recent months has increased DOC's concern about illegal trapping.

BayWa lifts stake in T&G ahead of deadline

A German pipfruit supplier has upped its stake in Turners & Growers and now controls 69.5 per cent of the company.

Kiwifruit IP report 'will be released'

Zespri chairman John Loughlin says he will make public a report investigating a bitter intellectual property stoush between growers.

Taranaki foreign farms buy-up nearer

A mysterious foreign buyer could be just days away from snapping up more than 2000 hectares of eastern Taranaki farmland.

New guide changes what fish we put on the table

The best pilchard? The one on a hook that's just been swallowed by a snapper.

Chinese firm gets nod to buy land

Chinese majority-owned dairy business Synlait Milk has been given the green light by the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) to buy the land on which its factory rests for about $1.1 million.

Crafar sale may hinge on point of law

A last-ditch High Court challenge to the $200 million sale of Crafar Farms to Pengxin, by a group of farmers led by Sir Michael Fay, may hinge on a point of law.

Crafar farm deal drags on

There has been another hold up in the sale of the Crafar farms, apparently related to a call for more time by the Overseas Investment Office.

Lawyer: Crafar buyers bring nothing but cash

Lawyers trying to block the sale of Crafar Farms to Chinese firm Shanghai Pengxin have told the High Court at Wellington the move would not benefit New Zealanders as required by law.

Accusations fly over kiwifruit grafting

Zespri has appointed former judge and mediator Sir Peter Trapski to investigate claims a board member is associated with the "illegal" grafting of a new gold kiwifruit variety.

James Cameron: I fell in love with NZ

Movie mogul James Cameron fell in love with New Zealand 18 years ago and vowed to make it home.

SCF farm sale ends feud

Receivers for South Canterbury Finance have sold out of Dairy Holdings for $55 million, ending a bitter fight over its ownership.

Australian sells out of NZ wine venture

Philosophical differences have caused the Australian part-owner of Martinborough's Te Kairanga and several other New Zealand wineries to pull out of the venture.

Indonesians take stake in Blue River

An Indonesian family has bought 50 per cent of Southland's Blue River Dairy Products, which controls 1543 hectares of land near Invercargill.

NZ log exports may face a squeeze

NZ's forestry exports may have a rough ride over the next year as falling demand from China puts the sector under pressure.

Fonterra tweaks plan to quash farmer jitters

A new Fonterra proposal would ensure legal title to shares would be held by a farmers' trust.

Milk boom continues

Fonterra's bumper season continues, with January likely to topple December as a record-breaking export month.

Project cost 'too high' for farmers

The project manager of a Hurunui irrigation scheme has welcomed an independent endorsement of the project, but says the cost to many farmers is still unaffordable.

Hatchery plays key role in industry

A small hatchery tucked away near Kaiapoi mostly goes under the radar, but it supports the multimillion-dollar South Island salmon industry.

Indonesian family buys stake in sheep milk firm

An Indonesian family has bought a 50 per cent share in Southland sheep milk company Blue River Dairy Products.

Southland deer prices hit a peak

BEST SALE: Balfour red deer breeder David Stevens, left, included the cut deer velvet in the sale of the $45,000 stag he sold to Roger Preston Jnr and Roger Preston Snr.

Strong venison and velvet markets had stag buyers spending large at deer sales across Southland this month.

Insiders tipped to buy Dairy Holdings

Dairy Holdings looks set to remain in New Zealand ownership, with existing shareholders said to be buying the remainder of one of the country's largest dairy groups.

Landcorp signs Crafar farms deal

Landcorp has lost its last chance to own the Crafar Farms.

Insiders tipped to buy Dairy Holdings

Dairy Holdings looks set to stay in New Zealand ownership with existing shareholders said to be buying the remainder of one of the country's largest dairy groups.

PM: Change to foreign ownership law possible

The Government will look at changing the law to limit foreign ownership of productive land if there is growing public concern.

Record dairy production gives rise to unexpected trade surplus

Record dairy production led to New Zealand running an unexpected trade surplus at the end of 2011, a sign of continued overseas demand, despite fears of a meltdown in key markets.

Crafar farms sale to Chinese group approved

PM says the successful bid for the Crafar farms "well and truly exceeded'' all the conditions.

Sauvignon blanc crop down

A significant drop in this year's sauvignon blanc grape yield could finally boost Marlborough's saturated wine industry.

Federated Farmers joins milk row

Federated Farmers has added its voice to the list of unbelievers that Government proposals to reform the milk market will bring down the retail price of milk.

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