Dairying

The global dairy sector looks set to be characterised by a future of solid market growth, but that growth will be unevenly spread, generating important new dynamics, a new industry report from Rabobank shows.

Farmer confidence has remained at relatively high levels throughout 2011, largely on the back of above-average commodity prices, but global economic uncertainty remains top of mind.

Environment Southland has committed to introducing a policy that will require new dairy conversions to gain a resource consent from next April, and to consult intensively between now and then on the details.

University of Otago health researchers have been unable to attract $700,000 from the dairy industry for further study into a possible link between the consumption of milk and reduced bowel cancer rates.

New Zealand's dairy cow population is increasing at a greater rate than its resident human population, statistics released recently show.

New dairy farm and related land use conversions will face a tougher test under rule changes proposed by Environment Southland.

When I arrived in New Zealand to do some research about farming, I had to wonder.

Agricultural scientist John Lancashire says the dairy sector has been dragging the chain environmentally and in how and what it produces.

A recent newspaper article on the New Zealand dairy industry was headlined "Fonterra gets a pass mark but there is still a long hard road ahead".

A business park focused mainly on dairy-related industries is to be established on the former Blue Mountain Lumber site near Tapanui.

The strength of the kiwi, which hit US81.76c yesterday, appears set to be further boosted by a combination of strong commodity prices and further weakening in the US dollar.