The Jersey breed was one of the foundation stones of the New Zealand dairy industry; not so today with the number and popularity of these brown cows diminishing initially in favour of the larger-framed Friesians but more latterly for crossbreds.

A company that owns a number of farms in South Waikato has been fined more than $30,000 for illegally discharging dairy effluent into the environment.

Registrations of interest have opened for DairyNZ's popular Progression Groups taking place nationwide in 2013.

The Dairy Women's Network will develop the country's first leadership programme specifically for women working in the dairy industry using a $180,000 grant from the Ministry of Primary Industries' Sustainable Farming Fund.

Fonterra has appointed a new director.

Dairy Women's Network chief executive Sarah Speight has stepped down from the role.

Eighteen months after announcing plans to radically scale back organic milk contracts, Federated Farmers is cautiously optimistic about Fonterra's announcement it is renewing supply contracts for organic dairy farmers in the lower and central North Island.

A new rail link into Fonterra Darfield's site opened today and is expected to carry 200,000 metric tonnes of milk powder in its first year of operation.

Fonterra has announced a half-year net profit of $459 million, a 33% increase over the previous year.

Fonterra has lifted its 2012-13 forecast payout to $6.12/kgMS.