Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard says dairy farmers need to ask themselves what a smart level of debt is given the risk profile for the next decade.

Some farmers are seeing sales drop as customers want prepared foods more than produce.

The release of 400ha to grow Gold3 kiwifuit under licence in 2016 will result in a hefty increase in Zespri International's corporate profit.

"Hang in there" - that's the message Fonterra chairman John Wilson was giving to farmers at Fieldays.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings has reshuffled the roles of some of his top managers for the third time this year.

Attendance at Fieldays on day two of the four-day agricultural event was up 10 per cent on the same day last year.

There is no "get out of jail free" card for dairy farmers in the current dairy downturn.

Doug Avery knows what it's like to be depressed.

Attendance at Fieldays is running just slightly below this time last year, despite the current slump in dairy prices.

A2 Milk shares rose 14 per cent after the milk marketing company raised its full-year guidance.

New Zealand's primary sector needs to innovate and reinvent itself if it is to thrive, KMPG says.

Without immigrant labour, US dairy farms would close, output drop and consumers pay twice as much for milk.

Big buys at annual agricultural event are likely to be lower on the shopping list for some who are hurting, especially dairy farmers.

COMMENT: A number of recent developments highlight concerns about the corporate governance of rural-based companies.

Fonterra's plan to alter its governance structure has been defeated.

Tougher rules around the treatment of bobby calves will start before the spring calving season, but other measures on food and shelter will be delayed until next year.

Fonterra's shareholders will vote tomorrow on a raft of changes - including reducing the board's size to 11 from 13.

COMMENT: The dairy industry does not want the cheese-eating world-wide public to know about its disposal of unwanted bobby calves, writes Mandy Carter,

Failed Crafar farms bidder sentenced in Hong Kong for fraud associated with her attempt to buy the North Island properties.

Alarm after tuberculosis-positive cow discovered at his farm.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson has linked Theo Spierings' resignation rumours to next week's farmer vote on changes.

Heartland Bank has told investors it is monitoring the dairy sector "with close attention".

Man caught mistreating bobby calves, after animal welfare groups released video, pleads guilty to charges.

Fonterra's farmers will vote next week on a raft of changes to the way the co-operative is governed.

Nearly 200 jobs at AgResearch will be relocated to Lincoln and Palmerston North with the Government today signing off on a new $133 million reconfiguration.

Former president of Wanganui Federated Farmers says dairy farming is responsible for 80 per cent of the degradation of New Zealand waterways.

Hopes are running high that the first GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) auction for 2016/17 will show an improvement in dairy prices.

Farmers overall remain satisfied with their banks, according to a Federated Farmers survey.

The milk price of $4.25 per kg remains well below DairyNZ's $5.25 per kg estimate of breakeven.