Dairy giant Fonterra is holding to a forecast payout potentially worth billions as international prices shows signs of strengthening later in the season.

Fonterra has announced it will not be changing its farmer payout forecast, saying world dairy prices should improve later this year.

The Govt is putting up $144.1m into two initiatives worth $321m over seven years to boost productivity and new products for the dairy and red meat sectors.

Mentoring scheme will help women make the leap to CEO or a place in the boardroom.

India says it will stockpile thousands of tonnes of dairy products it has bought from Fonterra.

Federated Farmers says fast, reliable broadband access is necessary if agri-business is to reach its productive potential. Simon Hendery reports.

The motives behind Chinese land investment.

Chinese dairy investors may be media shy, but they have been lobbying politicians and other key players at the highest levels.

Fonterra has announced it will review its payout forecast for the current 2010/11 year.

Prices have fallen 8.3 per cent overnight in the latest online dairy auction.

Sheep and beef farming could all but disappear in New Zealand if "structural issues" causing profits to drop are allowed to continue, says Federated Farmers.

The Chinese bid for the Crafar dairy farms has everything but transparency, finds Karyn Scherer.

Yet again, taxpayers are giving the railways a helping hand - $750 million over three years. Good money after bad, or the start of the rail revival? Nick Smith reports.

New Zealand may find itself economic toast if it doesn't get a comprehensive China strategy together - and fast.

Fonterra says milk powder prices in its monthly internet auction fell around 13.7 per cent overnight.

The New Zealand dollar gained on a weakening greenback after comments from the Reserve Bank of Australia yesterday spurred traders' appetite for high-yielding currencies.