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.

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

New Zealand may find itself economic toast if it doesn't get a comprehensive China strategy together - and fast.

Nearly 90pc of Fonterra's 10,500 farmer shareholders have voted to approve a new share trading plan.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders today voted in favour of the Trading Among Farmers proposal, approving plans to make its stock tradeable among themselves, freeing up capital for new investments.

Fonterra's farmers are voting today on whether to allow trading of shares in the co-op among themselves.

Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier says tomorrow's vote on whether to start share-trading among farmers is the most important decision for its farmers since the co-op was created.

At the age of three Fonterra's supply chain boss was sucked into a fuel pump - now safety is top of his list.

The dairy industry will pump $1 billion extra into the economy based on next season's Fonterra milk price forecast, says Westpac bank.

Fonterra farmers have been told their average cheque for next season may soar to record heights.

Fonterra today announced an opening forecast payout for the 2010/11 season of $6.90-$7.10 and said the full payout for the season might top $8.00.