Harmful farming practices are being pointed to as a cause of the "disgusting" state of Hawke's Bay's rivers. Although the Hawke's

Farmers have seen two successive seasons of sub-par milk prices and the signs so far have pointed to a third.

Challenges facing the dairy industry are taking their toll on farmers, Federated Farmers West Coast provincial president Peter Langford says.

Farmers' confidence improved a little since January but remains weak, with commodity and farmgate prices the biggest concern,

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.

Dry stock farmers' salaries have grown strongly in the past year, according to Federated Farmers and Rabobank's 2015-16 employee remuneration report.

Federated Farmers and Dairy NZ have been holding around the country aimed at helping farmers, particularly sharemilkers, through the downturn.

Dairy farmers are the most optimistic group in New Zealand's agricultural sector for the coming year, according to a Federated Farmers poll.

The Reserve Bank has warned defaults on dairy loans will be likely as cash-flow shortage estimated at $1/kgMS.

An Auckland businessman accused of threatening to contaminate infant formula with the poison 1080 was financially motivated, charge sheets allege.

Police arrest 60-year-old businessman over a threat to contaminate infant formula with the poison 1080.

Federated Farmers said it welcomed the Government's decision to decline the sale of Lochinver Station, near Taupo, to China's Shanghai Pengxin Group.

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.

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....

Almost 2000 people are being viewed as persons of interest in the investigation into the threat to contaminate infant formula with 1080 poison.

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.