Landcorp Farming, New Zealand's biggest farm business, expects Fonterra's payout to slip next year and its own earnings from beef exports to fall, reflecting the high kiwi dollar.

Reduced demand for organic dairy products has lead to dairy giant Fonterra pulling back from its organic operations.

The New Zealand dollar may rise this week, as equity markets recover from a three-week selloff following the US credit rating downgrade.

Trade Minister will be under pressure in Beijing to live up to the terms of the FTA.

Agriculture Minister David Carter cannot assure New Zealanders they are not paying too much for milk despite a report this morning which found retail and wholesale markets were competitive enough not to require price controls.

New Zealand commodity prices were stable last month, with weakness in logs and dairy products, while kiwifruit prices rose, according to the latest ANZ Commodity Price Index.

School principals say the number of pupils turning up for breakfast is increasing daily, despite the collapse of one of the two main breakfast programmes...

The price of butter and cheese will drop next month in line with falling international dairy prices - but milk will stay the same.

A major US dairy company, which markets products for four co-ops will start selling products through Fonterra's online dairy auction system from October.

Average prices of dairy products fell to their lowest level since early December in Fonterra's latest online auction, adding to evidence the steam in coming out of global commodity prices.