Dairy giant Fonterra is holding to a forecast payout potentially worth billions as international prices shows signs of strengthening later in the season.

Fonterra has announced it will not be changing its farmer payout forecast, saying world dairy prices should improve later this year.

The National Party has received $200,000 from a wealthy Chinese NZ couple linked to the Crafar farms bid.

The Govt is putting up $144.1m into two initiatives worth $321m over seven years to boost productivity and new products for the dairy and red meat sectors.

Natural Dairy, the Chinese backed company bidding for the Crafar dairy empire, has turned to newspaper advertising to push its case.

Farmers are working furiously to pump out flooded pastures as they prepare for more rain on top of the weekend's deluge.

A rival takeover offer has been launched for NZ Farming Systems Uruguay.

PGG Wrightson, New Zealand's biggest rural services group has returned to profit after impairments in the previous year.

Federated Farmers says fast, reliable broadband access is necessary if agri-business is to reach its productive potential. Simon Hendery reports.

Chinese dairy investors may be media shy, but they have been lobbying politicians and other key players at the highest levels.

The motives behind Chinese land investment.

Russia last week banned grain exports for the rest of the year after a severe drought and wildfires destroyed 20 per cent of its wheat crop.

One of the key people behind the Chinese Crafar bid has links with Pansy Wong's husband.

Sheep and beef farming could all but disappear in New Zealand if "structural issues" causing profits to drop are allowed to continue, says Federated Farmers.

Volatile dairy prices are here to stay, says dairy one futures expert.

The Chinese bid for the Crafar dairy farms has everything but transparency, finds Karyn Scherer.