Today, more than 70 billion animals are raised and killed for food worldwide annually, the majority in factory farms.

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.

Organisers of a red meat industry meeting in Christchurch tomorrow are seeking a written mandate from farmers, including a commitment to a possible new entity.

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.

A New Zealand-developed process for dying wool hailed as a world first in the textile industry has been snapped up by a US active wear manufacturer.

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.

Led by dairy products, prices for export commodities surged last month - and this time the rise in world prices was not eaten up by a higher exchange rate.

The latest attempt at giving farmers a presence in Parliament and a potential rival to Act on the political right is getting close to attracting enough members to register for next year's election.

One of central Auckland's green spaces has been secured after a new lease agreement which will enable an 81-year-old teaching farm to carry on.

Farmers throughout the North Island continue to hope for rain as the big dry bites hard, making conditions for some worse than the 2008 drought.

Two professional weather forecasters got close to predicting the record hot, dry summer, but a "motivational astrologer" was adrift.

That wonderful quote in our English history should be changed in New Zealand to: 'Water, water everywhere and not a drop is saved!'

Farmers need to adapt for a drier future as events like the 'once-in-a-lifetime' drought become closer to the norm.

Slaughterman Kent Sambells' workload was "hectic" last week as Waikato farmers called him in to destroy ailing cattle and take them away for processing into pet food.

Long-awaited rain is forecast for the drought-hit Northland region, with showers expected in some areas over the weekend.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has defended his decision to stay with a trade delegation in South America rather than returning home to contend with the drought.

No farmers have applied for hardship assistance after the Government cleared the way for the extra support by declaring five regions drought-affected.

Waikato dairy farmer Peter Brown rates his anxiety levels "about a 7.5" out of 10 as he endures his second drought in just five years.