Neal Wallace

The introduction of irrigation and increase in dairying on the North Otago downlands has meant farmers have had to change the way they manage their soils.

The National Party has accused two meat co-operatives of favouring state-owned farmer Landcorp with the allocation of space for ewes this season.

The price of Southland dairy farms has increased 40% in the past eight months and land suitable for converting to dairying has almost doubled in the past year, but experts expect prices to stabilise for a while.

The cost of superphosphate, agriculture's most commonly used fertiliser, has gone past the $500 a tonne mark, nearly three times what it cost a year ago.

Consumers are being warned to brace themselves for more dairy-product price rises.

On June 1, PPCS ceased to be. The Dunedin-based meat processing and marketing co-operative is now known as Silver Fern Farms.

Southern local authorities are being warned to prepare for a log harvest expected to almost double in the next 12 to 15 years.

Fonterra's falling share price could make its expansion plans more expensive.

When product prices fall, farmers have traditionally looked at the industry structure to fix it. Agribusiness editor Neal Wallace reports that there is wider acceptance that improved sheep meat prices would only come from the market, and that was where meat companies were increasingly focused.

The onus is falling on farmers to empty livestock before having it transported, following a recent meeting in Invercargill.

Southland dairy farmers are being told not to sign new declaration forms required by transport operators and Environment Southland before the transporting of cattle.

The recommissioning of its mothballed New Plymouth power station by Contact Energy was a very positive move amid tight electricity supply conditions, ABN Amro Craigs broker Peter McIntyre said yesterday.

One of the country's key economic drivers may lose a bit of its power today, with Fonterra expected to announce a significant decrease in its forecast opening payout to dairy farmers for next season.

The Brits are learning the benefits of sleeping on Dunedin-made woollen underlays with magnets added.

The country's largest meat company has backed an industry merger but has outlined its conditions for that support.

Debate over the structure of meat and dairy companies is nothing new, but, as Agribusiness Editor Neal Wallace reports, the current discussions about the future of the meat industry and ownership of Fonterra provide graphic evidence facing the two sectors.

The Animal Health Board is to take over vector control management in Otago from June next year, prompting some concerns about the loss of local control.