ORGANISERS HAVE brought forward the usual final entry date for the 2015 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards because of the popularity of the awards this year.

RABOBANK HAS appointed succession planning manager Chris Haworth as part of Rabobank's focus on assisting New Zealand farmers with the challenges of succession planning.

NELSON DAIRY farmer Julian Raine is bringing the country into the city, teaming up with the Fonterra Milk for Schools Programme and Victory Primary School.

ACC WILL be talking with farmers in several key rural areas next month, to help get a better understanding of the work farmers do, and the challenges they face in their day-to-day activities on the farm.

HEREFORD FRIESIAN cross calves are fetching astounding premium prices in parts of New Zealand as the annual round of calf sales gets into full swing.

ASB HAS revised down it milk price forecast for the 2014/15 season for the second time in less than a month to $5.80/kg of milk solids.

A WORKING GROUP has been set up to develop a 'roadmap' on how to meet the future capability needs of the dairy processing industry.

DAIRYNZ HAS appointed David McCall (above) to a new role of general manager of research and development as part of a plan to more closely integrate its research work with the products, tools, resources and services developed for farmers.

FONTERRA HAS signed a five-year strategic agreement with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to drive innovation in sustainable farming, manufacturing, health, nutrition and consumer dairy products.

DRY CONDITIONS in the northern North Island and continued land use change in the South Island saw New Zealand's sheep numbers decrease 3.2% over the 2013-14 season, while beef cattle numbers increased 1.6%.