Many city-dwellers may still peg rural women as domestic types, but modern farming women are on the land or in the office, running big businesses and driving the exports that are the backbone of NZ's economy.

Italy's Barilla family, founders of the world's largest pasta company, have paid $25m to buy a South Island dairy farm from Federated Farmers chairman Willy Leferink and his wife.

Australia's largest dairy cooperative Murray Goulburn (MG) looks set to follow Fonterra in adopting a specialised financial instrument to expand its capital base while retaining exclusive farmer ownership and control.

For a split second, Catlins farmer Brian Lemm felt his life hanging in the balance. Standing in the middle of a paddock, he froze as a spotlight stopped on him.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says the company is "eight to 10 years" behind other dairy players overseas when it comes to sustainability.

People who farm unusual breeds tell Dionne Christian why they find it so appealing.

Every day, millions of tons of inadequately treated sewage, industrial and agricultural waste enters the world's waterways, writes Sam Judd.

A mild winter and a favourable spring have boosted confidence in the New Zealand beef industry after last summer's challenging drought, says Rabobank.

South Island iwi Ngai Tahu almost doubled bottom-line profit from $68.9 million to $121.7 million after a sharemarket surge and farm revaluations.

Ministry for Primary Industries officials have approved an incursion programme in mid-Canterbury following a spillage of one of Europe's most invasive arable weeds - black grass - found in a consignment of imported fescue seed.

Spreading effluent on dairy farms is set to become a lot more high-tech thanks to smartphone-based technology now available for New Zealand farmers.

North American investors are understood to have paid around $30 million for one of New Zealand's biggest farms.

'I've got bruises like tyre marks up my leg," says Guy Speedy, vibrant and laughing just two days after being run over by his own tractor.

Allied Farmers, in talks with the Inland Revenue Department to settle a $4.2 million tax bill and avoid liquidation, posted a narrower annual loss.

We're a funny old country. When the dairy farming industry damn near ruins the nation's international image and our ability to sell anything overseas, who do we punish? The tourism sector, of course!

British news website Daily Mail Online says New Zealand's claims to be clean and green are "pure manure".

Fonterra's chief apologised to consumers and the New Zealand public at a press conference today, saying all contaminated stock had been contained.

"I could feel every bloody bump on the road," said the farmer who broke his neck in a 4m fall - then mounted his quadbike and rode home.

"One dirty pipe. It might have done less damage if it had exploded," writes Liam Dann.

Business leaders are calling for Minister Steven Joyce to review a decision by Agresearch to cut 85 jobs.