It's a long way from netball hoops to jumping through the hoops of doing business in China but farmer Mike Wilkins is aiming as carefully as his former Silver Fern wife.

The mood among farmers at this year’s annual national Fieldays was buoyant, despite the prospect of a drop in the dairy payout in the coming year, event organisers said.

Fonterra has been slapped with a $150,000 fine for breaching disclosure requirements to the NZX over the botulism false alarm last August.

A New Zealand business that champions ethically sourced food and beverages has been crowned the "Fairest Fairtrader" at a set of international awards.

Nutricia, the New Zealand infant formula unit of French food maker Danone, posted a 97 per cent drop in profit in 2013.

The value of primary exports will fall from unusually high levels over the 2014/15 year before recovering steadily in the following three years.

New Zealand avocado sales hit $136 million in the season ended April 30, double the previous season's, and setting new records in the export and domestic markets.

Waiwera mineral water destined for the United Arab Emirates was relabelled to sell in New Zealand after claims the water was unsafe.

Fonterra has set an opening milk price of $7.00 per kg of milksolids for the 2014/15 season and revised down its forecast for the current season.

China is now New Zealand's largest trading partner and expansion of economic links with this country will be vital to the New Zealand Government's goal.

Exports exceeded imports by $534 million last month, pushing the annual trade surplus to $1.2 billion, its largest since July 2011.

New disease-resistant variety helps industry bounce back from devastating Psa scourgeNeil Trebilco, president of NZ Kiwifruit Growers.

Comvita, which produces health products from manuka honey and olive leaves, lifted annual profit 3.3 percent.

Natural health products company Comvita said it had agreed to buy NZ Honey from NZ Honey Producers Co-Operative in a $12.3m.

Hawkes Bay wine producers are joining forces to try to cash in on the growing wine market in China.

New Zealand log prices appear to have levelled out after a strong run over the last year.

New Zealand's wine and dairy producers will be forced to export their products without branding in retaliation for Government's introduction of plain packaging of cigarettes.

Religious leaders in the UK want all halal and kosher meat labelled with slaughter methods. With a large chunk of NZ lamb sold there, are our exports at risk?

Graeme Wheeler pointedly reminded us of his power to intervene if the kiwi dollar continues to climb while export commodity prices fall, writes Brian Fallow.

The kiwi dollar dropped half a cent after the Reserve Bank governor said the bank may sell the currency should it remain high while export prices weaken.

Kiwi infant formula could end up stuck on Chinese wharves - like Kiwi meat exports last year, says the head of an industry group.

Only five of New Zealand's 13 infant formula manufacturers have been approved to export product into China under new regulations that came into force today.

Sheep and beef farm profits are expected to jump 35 per cent over 2013-14 from last year's drought-affected season.

New Zealand wine exports have rebounded to record levels as the wine growing industry continues its turnaround in fortunes.