Sally Rae

Anna Campbell has returned from a recent trip to China buoyed by the opportunities that she saw for New Zealand's red-meat sector.

Furriery might be a dying art - in more ways than one - but Dunedin business partners Max Wilson and Heather Kirk have adapted to changing times.

A good pastoral production year has seen a modest increase in sheep and beef cattle numbers in the year to June 30.

Alliance Group director Dawn Sangster has been awarded the Otago Southland branch of the Institute of Directors' 2012 aspiring director award.

He was the banker who became a farmer who became the president of rural lobby organisation Federated Farmers.

It is a safari with a difference.

Silver Fern Farms' Finegand plant celebrates its centenary this year. Agribusiness reporter Sally Rae visits the South Otago meat-processing plant - described by one employee as the "glue for the community" - and meets some of the characters who work there.

When it comes to commitment to a job, it would be hard to go past Finegand plant manager Phil Shuker.

When John Shaw emigrated from Scotland to New Zealand in 1852, he brought with him the name of his birthplace - Finegand - in the Highlands of Scotland.

Prices continued to slide for all wool types at the South Island wool sale in Christchurch yesterday, prompting growers to reserve wool.

Waikato dairy farmer John Wilson has been named chairman-elect of Fonterra, replacing Sir Henry van der Heyden.

Federated Farmers national president Bruce Wills estimates he probably spends half his time on water and environmental issues.

Young Patearoa farm worker Ashley Boardman has won the Central Otago Stud Merino Breeders' junior judging competition.

Meat Industry Association chairman Bill Falconer believes the red meat sector strategy has been "settling down extremely well" since its launch 14 months ago.