Federated Farmers president William Rolleston says progress made in the last few years on farming’s environmental impact can’t be sustained when farmers are making a loss. Speaking to the Local Government New Zealand conference today, Rolleston says if agriculture is to continue its contribution to New Zealand’s economy, it has to address the issues of productivity and environmental impact. A …

The New Zealand Venture Investment Fund, the Crown-funded start-up investor, has taken its 7.1 percent stake in ikeGPS inhouse, after Number 8 Ventures opted to distribute the shares at the end of the remote measurement tool maker’s lock-up period. The fund owns 3.5 million of the 50.1 million ikeGPS shares on issue, worth about $2.28 million at today’s price of 65 …

Disgruntled Alliance Group shareholders have gathered sufficient support to force a special meeting to discuss the potential benefits and risks of a merger with fellow cooperative Silver Fern Farms. Balfour farmer Jeff Grant, who along with rural accountant and farmer, Gaye Cowie, have been gathering the required 5 percent of proxy forms needed to force the special meeting, say they …