Australian dairy farmers want the government's help in gaining security around milk prices.

The NZX is launching new dairy futures and options contracts as a way to lessen the volatility in milk prices.

It's not only NZ dairy farmers unhappy about farm gate prices.

Dairy prices ended the 2015/6 season on a firm note with the GlobalDairyTrade price index rising by 2.6 per cent at this morning's auction.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders will vote next month on whether to accept governance changes to trim the board.

Fonterra says part of forecast final dividend will be moved up to ease low-price pain.

Mystery has enveloped the ginseng industry-the biggest customer for a small Canadian county has disappeared.

Workers weren't allowed time off, including a pregnant woman who was told she'd be laid off if she took maternity leave.

The trend towards organic produce means the US is now importing animal feed from Romania.

Fonterra's first draft of suggested changes to its governance structure recommends the board's size be cut from 13 to 11.

International markets are "screaming out" for New Zealand apples.

NZX's planned new milk price futures contract can help bring stability to a dairy sector being hit by low returns, says visiting specialist Brian Rice.

COMMENT: Sustainable farming is about doing business while doing good. It is about ensuring decent income and benefits while preserving our environment.

The Institute of Directors has made a case for adding independent directors to the boards of farming company operations.

"Pleasant surprise" at global dairy auction.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy gave a group of Waikato farmers a pep talk yesterday.

Fonterra could let farmer shareholders sell shares based on annual milk production to reduce debt, analysts say.

Fitch Ratings said growth in European milk production will further delay a recovery in global milk prices beyond 2016.

COMMENT: McGrathNicol business partners Andrew Grenfell and Conor McElhinneyrs talk about the flow-on effects of low dairy prices.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it will take action against baby formula marketer Fernbaby if the company continues to make "therapeutic claims" about its products.

What's going on in dairy is fully explainable and virtually none of it is anyone's fault in this country. We've been here before with dairy and without a doubt we will be here again.

Dairy farm values are tumbling, according to data from the Real Estate Institute of NZ.

However, even the Reserve Bank's best case scenario sees farm prices fall by 20pc, while the worst case scenario would see a fall in land prices of 40pc.

A new strain of virus that could decrease the number of rabbits by 30 per cent is up for government approval.

World dairy prices went against market expectations and fell 2.9 per cent decline at the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction.

The South Island dairy processor will need to consider investing in expansion given the rapid growth of A2, analysts say.

Bank analyst has confidence in the sector's ability to adapt but says that some of those ill-prepared for the downturn will go to the wall.

It was an ominous sign when Prime Minister John Key wandered into his weekly post-Cabinet press conference and announced, "I've got a bit of a head cold."

Late start to the season means apple growers will face a race against time to have fruit picked, raising concerns about the availability of labour.

State-owned Landcorp and China's Shanghai Pengxin Group - the company that bought the distressed Crafar farms in 2012 - are about to part company.