Wool prices appear to have lost some of their earlier momentum, with falls matching rises at last week's combined sale of North Island and South Island wool.
RJ (John) Wilson admits the timing of the release of a wool press developed and built in Mosgiel could not have been better.
Farmers of fine wool appear to be flocking to support a new meat marketing structure which its promoters say could be a blueprint for the wider meat industry.
Ten of the country's 80 meat processing plants will have to close for processing capacity to match livestock supply.
Workers at the Mataura freezing works in Southland are being asked to take pay cuts of up to $400 a week to ensure the plant stays open.
A new farmer-owned wool exporter and marketer needs farmers to commit a further 15 million to 20 million kilograms of strong wool for Wool Partners Co-operative to proceed.
Cavalier Wool Holdings has entered the race to buy the country's only other wool scour operator and marketer, New Zealand Wool Services International.
September's storm has turned a potentially excellent year for southern sheep and beef farmers in to a pretty good one.
Independent PGG Wrightson directors have recommended shareholders accept a partial takeover of the listed rural servicing company by cornerstone shareholder Agria (Singapore), but said they should wait until nearer to April's offer deadline before deciding.
PGG Wrightson's half-year accounts have taken a hit from a slow start to the financial year and the effect of several one-off items.
Tactics to address Otago's bovine tuberculosis vector problem are changing from blanket control of known infection areas to targeting hot spots.
The growing influence of China as a buyer of New Zealand wool was illustrated last week when prices eased, due in part to China's absence as it marked New Year.
A new strong-wool marketing co-operative will proceed only if there is confidence shareholders will subscribe for 65 million $1 shares within a year of launching.
A surprise takeover bid yesterday for rural servicing company PGG Wrightson has breathed life into the poor-performing stock and should reward long-suffering shareholders.
The future of Allan Hubbard's majority shareholding in New Zealand Wool Services International is creating some uncertainty, as the company reports a hostile approach from a competitor wanting to buy its wool scour assets.
Wool marketer New Zealand Merino and meat company Silver Fern Farms are forming a joint venture to market and promote merino branded sheep meat and by-products.
A 7.2% lift in dairy auction prices yesterday has cemented commodity values at record levels but also pushed the New Zealand dollar to a two-month high against the greenback.
For 80 years, the fertiliser works at Ravensbourne has contributed to the growth of pastoral farming in the South and it has also helped shape the structure of New Zealand's fertiliser industry.
European and New Zealand investors who have spent more than $100 million buying South Island dairy farmland in recent weeks plan to invest another $13 million in capital development.
Competing land use is pushing sheep further back in to the hills but Perendale breeders are responding by ensuring their sheep remain relevant.
