Fonterra Cooperative Group's New Zealand milk collection fell 10 per cent in the first month of the 2017 season, a typically low production period.

Claudio Da Costa, 47, told MPI investigators he used scissors because it was a 'quick and cheap fix for the problem'.

KIwiRail is introducing a charge to maintain private rail crossings, and farmers will be the first to be asked to cough up.

Failed Crafar farms buyer May Wang is appealing her convictions and her eight-year jail sentence. Wang, also known as May Hao, was

Manuka honey is making a big comeback with plans to develop a $1.2 billion honey industry.

Northland farmers and possum trappers are being warned to take care around animals after a spike in cases of leptospirosis. Leptospirosis

New Zealand commodity prices rose for a second month in June, led by more seafood and dairy products.

Milk processing firm Miraka is tripling production to meet a growing thirst for its UHT products in China.

Fonterra's opposite number in Australia has announced A$4.31 per kg of milksolids as its opening farmgate milk price for the season.

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.

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

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

The crankholder is set to revolutionise the fencing industry ... or at least make it much easier to build a fence.

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.

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.