Clare Pennington

As the UK inches closer to a summer referendum on whether to remain a member of the European Union, sister publication PEI is polling the industry to find out where it stands on the prospect of ‘Brexit’.

Australia’s competition watchdog chairman said he is worried agriculture supply chains could be hurt if the Port of Fremantle's future owner is given rights to develop a second port to the south.

The group is said to be looking for A$20m to be invested in several tranches, but is not selling its land.

As dairy prices begin the road to recovery after a difficult year, Rabobank dairy analyst Kevin Bellamy asks whether investors should be looking at New Zealand.

Agricultural exports are forecast to reach a record A$45 billion next year in an industry that has increasingly attracted investment from abroad.

New Zealand dairy went through a rough patch last year. But with pricing picking up at the same time as more deal opportunities come to market, investors would do well to take a second look.

Larger dairy operations are likely to survive price downturns and save on operating costs according to a new Rabobank report.

The fund targets own-and-operate cattle production assets in Australia and already holds over a million hectares.

Intensive farming and over-use of inputs has polluted much of China's agricultural land, which has depressed yields and farmer income.

Rabobank expects further price differentiation in developed markets and global poultry supply to tighten under the lingering cloud of avian influenza.