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.

Very low dairy prices have so far not translated into widespread forced sales of farms, but the coming spring and summer periods will be the acid test for many.

Synlait Milk said its forecast milk price for the 2016/2017 would carry a higher-than-usual advance rate for milk suppliers.

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.

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.

Zespri reported a bumper year for 2015/6, with the biggest-ever total return to growers.

COMMENT: The Government should be proactive and appoint an independent Commissioner for Animal Welfare, writes Catriona MacLennan. Not only to prosecute animal cruelty, but also comprehensive monitoring of animal welfare.

Australian dairy farmers want the government's help in gaining security around milk prices.

The NZX is launching new dairy futures and options contracts as a way to lessen the volatility in milk prices.

It's not only NZ dairy farmers unhappy about farm gate prices.

Dairy prices ended the 2015/6 season on a firm note with the GlobalDairyTrade price index rising by 2.6 per cent at this morning's auction.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders will vote next month on whether to accept governance changes to trim the board.

NZ's relationship with the Philippines is in great shape and growing as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.

Fonterra says part of forecast final dividend will be moved up to ease low-price pain.

A mild improvement in dairy prices is expected at this week's GlobalDairyTrade auction - the last for the 2015-16 season.

Fonterra has enlisted the help of Richie McCaw to help show the co-operative is not a "faceless corporate".

Expensive farm equipment is sitting idle on farms around the country. MachineryLink Sharing wants to change that.

New Zealand's largest meat processor will hold a special meeting of shareholders on its planned tie up with China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius.