IT NEVER rains, it pours. Once again in 2012, La Nina has caused large areas of Australia to flood. It comes as a cruel blow after so many years of drought, and with the exception of the west, most states have been inundated where the dairy cattle are found.

BEING LARGELY of volcanic origin, much of the soil in New Zealand is naturally low in copper. There are also regions where the soil is derived from rocks low in copper or the metals are leeched through high rainfall. Low copper levels in the soil mean there is less in the pasture and the stock grazing these pastures have reduced productivity as a result. 

THE WAIKATO Regional Council says a large proportion of dairy water-take consents required under its new Variation 6 water allocation policy should only need to go through a "relatively simple" process.

NEAR FOX Glacier in South Westland, the dairy industry on the coast starts to unfold. There’s just a narrow coastal plain at first, but this widens the further north you go. Driving up SH6, the visitor sees signs of new dairy conversions and established dairy farms looking in good shape or expanding.