New Zealand has about 720,000ha of land under irrigation, but about half that again could be sustainably irrigated by 2025, an industry body says.

Any chance of an upgrade in Fonterra's farmer payout became more remote today after a big drop in world dairy prices.

Farmers might have to pay for their emissions like everyone else under a revision of the Government's main climate change policy.

Silver Fern Farms shareholders have voted strongly in favour of a 50/50 joint venture with China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius

Government is on the hunt for some big foreign firms to invest in local R & D over the next five years.

Food researchers have been granted $10.9 million under a new Government scheme designed to encourage scientific brilliance and boost exports.

Silver Fern Farms chairman Rob Hewett said the board remained convinced that a joint venture proposal from Shanghai Maling Aquarius was the best choice.

Local councillor says Chinese company's decision to pull out of a $42m farm purchase because of bureaucratic hurdles is a "slap in the face".

Michael James Whitelock, 28, shot one cow in the leg, dumped another cow still alive in an offal pit, and broke the tails of hundreds of others.

A group of Silver Fern Farms shareholders who oppose the company's proposed joint venture with Shanghai Maling Aquarius say their offer of a $90 million alternative capital raising proposal remains a live issue just days before the deal goes to the vote.

South Island-based Ngai Tahu made $109.3 million net annual profit, down $36.1 million on last year because of lower earthquake damage insurance payouts.

Proposed road name for the new road is Cash Cow Rd to be associated with the current owner Cash Cow Limited.

The Notice of Meeting and Independent Report for the acquisition of 50 per cent of Silver Fern Farms by Shanghai Maling are revealing.

Donald McKenzie Harcourt appeared for sentence in Greymouth District Court on animal welfare charges, dating back to 2012, relating to his Crooked River farm.

Fonterra executives will have their work cut out convincing farmers to reduce their use of what has been a key feed supplement over the past 10 years - palm kernel.

Waikato dairy co-op Tatua says earnings before tax fell by 11.1pc to $121.2m, reflecting falling commodities prices.

Alliance chairman Murray Taggart says any Silver Fern merger Farms risks making a "big beached whale" of the meat industry.

Chinese billlionaire's company brings in the lawyers over New Zealand's decision to veto an $88 million bid to buy Lochinver station.

Maling's proposal to acquire 50% of Silver Fern Farms reaffirms that Chinese investors are interested in New Zealand's rural and food-based assets.

A business connection made over lunch has dished up an opportunity for Southland beef and lamb in the Chinese city of Xi'an.

Fonterra is reporting a big turnaround in annual profit and a much improved forecast cash payout for the current year.

Summer's El Nino weather pattern may be good news for barbecues and backyard cricket, but farmers and firefighters are preparing to battle drought and wildfires.

Canterbury dairy company Synlait Milk has almost halved its net profit for the July year to $10.6 million.

Silver Fern Farms embarked on a roadshow to sell farmers on bringing in China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius as a shareholder in its newly formed venture.

Low dairy prices have continued to weigh heavily on farmer sentiment, according to Rabobank's Rural Confidence Survey.

Chief executive Theo Spierings says dairy giant has to make tough decisions as review increases job cuts to 750.

The blocking of a sale of Lochinver Farm will be welcomed by those with a narrow, not to say xenophobic, view of the national interest.

Federated Farmers said it welcomed the Government's decision to decline the sale of Lochinver Station, near Taupo, to China's Shanghai Pengxin Group.

Does this morning's big jump in world dairy prices mean an increased payout for farmers? There might be a long way to go.