Sally Rae

Though the widespread drought has caused milk production to plummet and resulted in a record sheep and beef kill, economists have signalled the net cost to the economy could be ''close to zero'' - thanks to global dairy price increases.

Fonterra is renewing contracts for some of its organic dairy farmers, less than two years after slashing the number of supplier farmers throughout the North Island, but the news is not so good for Northland suppliers.

Rainbow Confectionery Ltd has doubled its capacity with the acquisition of an Australian confectionery plant.

Sheep meat exports surged in February and an ''extraordinary'' jump in shipments to China drove that growth.

Organisers of a red meat industry meeting in Christchurch tomorrow are seeking a written mandate from farmers, including a possible commitment to a new entity.

When people ask vet Dave Robertson what he does in his job, his usual reply is that he ''scans cows and talks about sheep''.

David Backhurst has seen a lot of changes in Southland since first moving there in the early 1990s and then spending a decade away from the province.

When Jan Appleby hits the pedals on the Otago Central Rail Trail later this month, it will have special significance.

From stock agent to lawyer, corporate financier to venture capitalist, and then business owner - it has been quite a journey for former North Otago man Chris Twiss.

North Otago's Mitchell and Webster Group has been named supreme winner of the 2013 Otago Ballance farm environment awards.