I like to see the glass half full, and I have the facts to back that view. If you still want to see the glass half empty - you're the loser, writes Mike Hosking.

Attendance at Fieldays at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton, was up by 5.2 per cent compared with last year's weather-affected event.

Farmers don't expect special treatment from this year's Budget, but some recognition of the impact that the drought has had on farm finances would be a welcome move.

Fonterra's strategy has to start delivering or its market share will shrink further, says Federated Farmers Otago dairy chairman Stephen Crawford.

Police scientists are still poring over samples to identify who was behind threats to contaminate infant formula with 1080 poison.

Climate scientists are warning that a large, ocean-driven El Nino system could bring unwelcome weather extremes this year, making the east coast drier.

Parts of the South Island have experienced sporadic bursts of rain in recent weeks but Marlborough and Canterbury are still waiting for the big drought breaker.

Representatives of New Zealand's fragmented bee industry have called for Government support to reintroduce commodity levies for honey and the creation of a national body by April next....

All of the samples of infant formula tested by police after being suspected of possible tampering have tested negative for 1080.

Authorities are investigating a photo of thin jersey cows being transported across Cook Strait to slaughter, which caused outrage after being shared on Facebook.

Authorities are no closer to saying if the threat to poison baby formula with 1080 was a hoax, or who wrote the blackmail threats - even with 30 staff on the case.

Police are testing infant formula after a number of tins were found with pin-pricks in packaging lids.

The decision to refuse to tell parents what they knew or that they were opting to take a lunatic at his word that the poisoning wouldn't begin until the end of March, was despicable, writes Josie Pagani.

Dairy companies are confident security measures at their facilities are tight enough to prevent a 1080 contamination.

Fallout from this week's baby formula contamination threat weighed heavily on the New Zealand dollar yesterday, with news of curtailed orders from China driving the currency lower still.

The Government was right to say nothing until discreet inquiries had failed and there is a chance a public appeal might help police catch him. The interval appears to have permitted the industry to be well prepared.

Dairy exports may already be stuck on Chinese wharves as a result of a new import requirement that products be tested for 1080 contamination, says an industry group.

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.

Federated Farmers is questioning the need for a National Party proposal for a compulsory ban on dairy cattle from all waterways.

Rogue dairy farmers exploiting migrant workers have no place in the industry, a senior farming leader says.

Labour's Shadow Minister of Finance David Parker looked the part in delivering his party's monetary policy.

National is set to have two former tobacco industry lobbyists standing for Parliament this year with the selection of Todd Barclay in the safe seat of Clutha-Southland.

A judge who fined Fonterra $300,000 over the events leading to last year's botulism scare says New Zealand's reputation as an exporter was "shaken" by the incident.