The Chinese-owned company wanting to buy the balance of the Crafar farms would be the first vertically integrated dairy business in NZ.

Kiwis concerned about NZ farms being sold to foreign investors have no one to blame but themselves, writes Bernard Hickey.

Fonterra says revenues fell $300 million in the past half year, but that world dairy prices continue to recover.

NZ researchers appear to be gearing up for a new bid to win over consumers before the first applications for release of GE pasture species.

Fonterra says it has lifted its "distributable profit" forecast by 5c for the current 2009-2010 season to between 40c to 50c a share - but isn't going to pass on this increase to its farmers.

A free trade deal with the highly protected Indian economy could mean big things for New Zealand agriculture exporters.

Fonterra has raised about $270 million from its farmer shareholders.

Fonterra says around one third of its farmer shareholders have spent $270.7 million buying up new shares in the co-operative.

First it was baby formula - now it appears NZ-sourced Fonterra milk powder is also being sold online in China.

NZ supermarkets are rationing baby formula because of fears of a shortage caused by Chinese buyers selling it in bulk to parents back in their homeland.

The Government is keeping close watch on the "big dry" in many regions and will consider drought assistance if conditions worsen, Agriculture Minister David Carter says.

Fonterra's whole milkpowder prices have fallen at auction for the first time in six months.