Stories by Alexa Cook
News
Whey-off regulations stink, cheesed-off producers say
Regulations governing raw milk cheeses are ridiculous and unaffordable, cheesemakers have told a parliamentary committee.
Marks & Spencer Scotland pulls pin on NZ lamb
British retailer Marks & Spencer will no longer stock New Zealand lamb in its Scottish stores, after a decision to only sell locally-produced lamb.
Small-scale makers cheesed off by food safety bill
Small-scale cheesemakers are fighting the government over what they say are unrealistic food safety fees.
Calf rearers panic over Fonterra's milk powder shortage
A rural animal feed store says Fonterra has told them that there is no calf milk powder for two weeks, causing panic among calf rearers.
Lamb export value drops 40 percent
The value of New Zealand lamb exports dropped 40 percent in August compared to August last year, AgriHQ says.
Chinese firm in NZ infant formula venture
Westland Milk Products is joining forces with a Chinese company to create a new infant formula venture in New Zealand.
Tatua announces dairy payout of $6.30
The Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company has announced an annual operating profit of $99.7m and confirmed last season's milk price at $6.30 a kilogram of milk solids.
Second stage for Canterbury irrigation scheme approved
The $250m second stage of the Central Plains Water irrigation scheme in Canterbury has been fully approved by the shareholders.
Honey could help patients fitted with catheters - study
Manuka honey curbs bacterial growth on plastic and could help patients fitted with catheters who get infections, according to a new study released today.
Warning about gastro bug risk in Southland
The Southland DHB is urging people to be vigilant about washing their hands after working with animals due to a seasonal increase in gastro bug cases.
Farmers' confidence in rural economy rises
Farmers' confidence, especially in the dairy sector, is the highest it has been in years, according to the recent Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey.
Prisoners train to fill farming labour gap
New Zealand needs to fill 50,000 new jobs in the farming sector over the next decade, and hundreds of prisoners are training up to fill the gap. Audio
Farmers getting top dollar for beef calves
Farmers selling beef calves are getting top dollar for their animals this spring because of the drop in dairy cow numbers, says a Waikato livestock auctioneer.
Wallabies spread to the Otago Rail Trail
Signs of wallabies have been reported in Alexandra on the Otago Rail Trail, which the regional council says could mean the pest has spread right into the Maniototo.
NZ avocado exports cause concern for Aus growers
Woolworths in Australia is importing avocados from New Zealand earlier than usual and this is creating a glut in the market, Avocados Australia says.
Dairy prices rise but future remains uncertain
While prices have risen in the Global Dairy Auction for the third time in a row, a former agribusiness professor says it could level off from here.
Foreigners 'more willing to put up with the work'
It's not surprising that many dairy farms prefer to employ foreigners, because they are willing to work huge hours to help keep work visas, says a dairy industry veteran.
Lambs on the ground but no grass to feed them
North Canterbury is still parched and, while there has been a good lambing season, there isn't enough feed, says a local farmer.
Cracker potential for NZ cheese exports
It's time for New Zealand to realise the export potential of its cheese market, a British industry veteran says.
Exports could be affected by horticulture worker shortage
New Zealand's exports could suffer if demand for horticulture workers isn't met, a primary industries training organisation says.
UMF defends manuka fraud reports
The UMF Honey Association says they have confidence in exporting manuka despite reports from the UK that the industry is riddled with fraud.
Kiwifruit windfall nearly doubles Seeka profit
Produce company Seeka has reported a whopping 92 percent lift in profit of $7.1 million for the first half of the year.
'You've still got the reservoir of bugs living in the pipes'
The chlorine used by the Hastings District Council to clear the town's water supply is useless, says a rural water expert.
Govt ponies up $12m for sheep milk
Growing demand for sheep milk products has prompted the government to invest $12 million into a new partnership with a Taupō-based company.
E coli test 'not thorough enough' for health
E coli water tests don't pick up all the bugs from animals and some could be slipping through the cracks, a Waikato veterinarian and ecologist says.