RURAL NEWS - General

Synlait slams Feds' packaging claims

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:06:22 GMT

Synlait chief executive John Penno has rebuffed Federated Farmers' suggestion that simple economics mean retail packaging of Synlait's premium products will be in China following the Bright Dairy buy-in.

Feds welcome employment changes

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:09:01 GMT

federated Farmers employment spokesman David Rose has welcomed the Government's planned changes to employment law.

Feed price hikes loom?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:08:19 GMT

A rise in feed prices appears on the cards as northern hemisphere harvests reel from heat waves and storms, prompting as much as a 25% lift in some international grains markets since the end of June.

NZ losing grip on dairy industry - Norman

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:10:13 GMT

Chinese Government-owned Bright Dairy's deal to buy a majority stake in Canterbury milk processor Synlait has drawn fire from Green Party co-leader Russel Norman.

Meat industry unites to set future path

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:10:41 GMT

Meat industry leaders have agreed terms of reference and funding to set the way ahead for the industry over the next five to 10 years.

Checkout's where it counts

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 09:18:11 GMT

High value niches being pushed by "armchair exporters" as the way to raise farmgate returns could prove to be a dead loss, says Federated Farmers.

'Tax farm sales'

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:41:12 GMT

High land values and debt are holding agriculture back and, unpalatable as it may be, a capital gains tax could be part of the solution, says one of New Zealand's leading scientists turned commentator.

Dairy women hire new GM

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:02:59 GMT

The Dairy Women's Network has appointed Nita Harding as its new general manager.

AHB completes major possum control operations

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:05:05 GMT

A fine spell of weather has enabled the Animal Health Board (AHB) to complete a series of aerial possum control operations to protect West Coast cattle herds from bovine tuberculosis.

Co-op plans hefty local investment

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:16:33 GMT

Fonterra expects to invest on average $500 million of new capital expenditures annually in New Zealand.

Pasture-only policy costs farm

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:10:50 GMT

ANDREW SWALLOW

No cause for alarm at access plans

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:20:46 GMT

There is no reason for access issues "to blow up again" as high country farmers suggested in Rural News' last issue (June 22).

Ag in Action is full steam ahead

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 08:27:27 GMT

An "itch waiting to be scratched" is how Ag in Action business manager Vaughan Coy describes next year's farm machinery demonstration event now signing exhibitors.

'Plan ahead to beat imports'

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:22:57 GMT

Agriculture Minister David Carter says the nation's beekeepers should start planning ahead in case Australian honey is allowed into New Zealand.

Are you owed carbon credits?

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:19:07 GMT

Owners of pre-1990 exotic forests should soon learn whether they will qualify under the ETS for a free allocation of carbon credits.

CPW stumbles again

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:33:33 GMT

The 10-year saga of Central Plains Water's (CPW) battle to bring water from the Waimakariri and Rakaia Rivers to 60,000ha of Central Canterbury seems set to run for a bit longer yet.