Average prices of dairy products fell from a three-month high in Fonterra's latest online auction, as commodity prices and equity markets weakened on doubts about the pace of US economic growth and Greece's debt woes.

Agricultural sector seen moving from survival mentality to productive mode.

The latest Chinese bid for the Crafar dairy farms is a key test for new rules on foreign ownership, reports Karyn Scherer

Labour is continuing to insist that putting agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2013 won't raise the price of dairy products, and says Prime Minister John Key is being misleading by saying it will.

Fonterra, the world's biggest dairy exporter, lifted its forecast 2011 pay-out to farmers to a range of $8 to $8.10, before retentions, while flagging a reduced payment for the following year.

The 12-hour global telethon to raise money for earthquake-hit Christchurch has now collected more than $1 million.