Last year was a 'bitterly disappointing' year for farmers, with the number of deaths nearly doubling to 17, Federated Farmers says.

The Government has turned down Hong Kong listed Natural Dairy NZ's controversial bid to buy the Crafar dairy farms from receivers in a deal thought to be worth about $200 million.

Rainfall over the past few days has made a Waikato farmer's "wishes come true", but he warns its effect will not be immediate.

Silver Ferns Farms has hit back at complaints that workers at its Te Aroha plant had their pay deducted for observing a two-minute silence to remember the Pike River miners.

David Carter has declared a drought in the Waikato and Ruapehu District, saying recent rainfalls appear to have had little effect on dry pastures.

An official drought already declared for Northland could spread to much of the upper North Island.

Dairy giant Fonterra is boosting its billion dollar forecast payout to farmers.

Fonterra has this morning announced an increase in its payout forecast for the 2010/2011 season by 30 cents per kilo of milk solids to $6.90.