Spreading effluent on dairy farms is set to become a lot more high-tech thanks to smartphone-based technology now available for New Zealand farmers.

We're a funny old country. When the dairy farming industry damn near ruins the nation's international image and our ability to sell anything overseas, who do we punish? The tourism sector, of course!

British news website Daily Mail Online says New Zealand's claims to be clean and green are "pure manure".

Fonterra's chief apologised to consumers and the New Zealand public at a press conference today, saying all contaminated stock had been contained.

While the primary sector has its challenges, science and agriculture must be given a chance to solve them

"I see tourists regularly and they ask is there somewhere to eat and sleep?" Ken Turner's planned eco tourism venture would've been impossible earlier.

Kiwi farmers' expertise could help solve the problem of how to feed the world's rapidly growing population in the years ahead, says the boss of agriculture show Fieldays.

The allure of a high share price is proving too much for a growing number of Fonterra's farmers, with more choosing to sell up and move to competing cooperatives and dairy companies, says Fonterra's director of milk supply, Steve Murphy.

Farmer David Hunt has spoken out about his battle with mental illness in a bid to raise awareness of the warning signs for depression in rural communities.

Chinese billionaire Jiang Zhaobai, who now owns the Crafar dairy farming empire, is back in New Zealand forging a relationship with Maori.

Primary industries generate over 70 per cent of New Zealand's merchandise exports.

The average farming wage is higher than for the country as a whole and living costs in rural areas are lower.

Maori-controlled, with a Vietnamese connection, one of the country's newest dairy companies does things a little bit differently from the big boys, discovers Jamie Gray.

Join us at noon today for a live chat with Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills. You can send in your questions now.

New data out shortly could show if the severe drought is having an effect on farm sales but one expert believes farmers' general spending will be hit harder than volumes or prices of property deals.