The industry group DairyNZ estimates that one quarter of dairy farmers will have difficulty paying their bills if Fonterra's reduced farmgate milk price comes to pass.

Fonterra has this morning cut its forecast farmgate milk price payout to its farmers, with its chairman admitted it'll put pressure on farm budgets.

The contrast in fortunes this week between two parts of New Zealand could not have been starker.

Parts of the country are rapidly drying out but weather experts are not mentioning the "D" word just yet

ANZ has admitted misleading conduct over interest rate swaps and up to 178 farmers will now have to decide whether to accept their share of $18.5 million from the bank.

NZ farmers are facing summer water restrictions in some regions as an El Nino weather pattern develops.

Wholemilk powder prices continued to decline while other products showed signs of improvement at this morning’s GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Farmers have been increasing their spending on equipment as cash flows were boosted by Fonterra's record payout.

Fonterra says it had started a consultation process to gauge interest in a proposed equity partnership trust for its farmers.

A farmer subjected to a "fast and furious" attack by a belligerent bovine says he was lucky to escape serious injury.

Producer prices fell in the September quarter due to decreases in dairy prices, Statistics New Zealand said.

A sheep on an escape bid had a lucky break after it took a wrong turn and headed into the sea at Makorori.

New Zealand tractor sales are expected to match record highs this year, thanks to high milk prices and good growing conditions.

Fonterra now looks certain to drop its farmgate payout to its farmers, after prices fell in the latest overnight dairy auction.

Dressed as chickens and posing in giant cages, more than 20 protestors gathered outside the resource consent hearing of a proposed caged chicken farm in South Auckland this morning.

Prime Minister dismisses claims that the dairy industry is not playing its part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Fonterra Shareholders' Fund should be able to raise its 2015 dividend forecast given it expects to pay farmers less for their milk.

International dairy prices showed signs of stabilising at this morning’s GlobalDairyTrade auction.

'Horrific" rates of nearly $50k a year on land still being grazed by livestock prompted the $37.9m sale of one of Auckland's largest land lots.

The head of Fonterra says the growing Ebola epidemic could cost the company $150 million.

Landcorp's decision to take full control of New Zealand's largest red meat genetics business is an example of the state-owned enterprise's push to diversify its operations.

A Marlborough farmer wants Fonterra to stop investment spending and cut staff salaries until milk prices improve.

World dairy prices showed signs of levelling off today with the GlobalDairyTrade price index gaining 1.4 per cent at the fortnightly auction.

Tightening conditions on global commodity markets have come as no surprise to small to medium-sized agribusiness enterprises, according to an MYOB survey.

Farmers from southern provinces are moving to Northland to take advantage of the comparatively cheap dairy farms on offer there, according to real estate agency Bayleys.

New Zealand's "rock star" economic growth of the past couple of years has been attributed to two things: high dairy prices and the Christchurch rebuild.

Farmers are preparing for an austere 2014/15 season after a major drop in prices at last night's GlobalDairyTrade auction, says Federated Farmers boss.

Research funding from the dairying and soft drink industries could be declined on ethical grounds under proposals being worked through by the University of Canterbury.