MOST EVENINGS I get calls from concerned Fonterra shareholders asking what progress we are making on getting another vote on TAF (trading among farmers). We are steadily adding signatures to petitions making that call, but from the board, as yet, there's been no signal they'll agree to it.

HORIZONS REGIONAL Council's mooted investment in dairying copped flak last week from many quarters, but the idea isn't as daft as it sounds.

THE LATEST Clean Streams Accord report shows dairy farmers are heading in the right direction environmentally, says Fonterra, but Fish and Game has questioned the report’s credibility.

THE CREAM of New Zealand's large dairy farmers will gather in Palmerston North in March for their annual conference.

FEDERATED FARMERS Southland is demanding Environment Southland defer implementation of new rules making dairy grazing a discretionary activity.

FONTERRA HAS upped its forecast payout for the 2012 season 20c/kgMS to $6.90-$7.00 for a fully shared up farmer.

WITH ELEVEN days still to go until entries close, the 2012 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have already attracted over 400 applicants.

DAIRY PRICES will continue to fluctuate as economic uncertainty grips the EU and the US, says Fonterra chairman Henry van der Heyden.

ABOUT 3500 Waikato farmers will soon require resource consent to take extra water for dairy shed use.

HOKITIKA CO-OP Westland Milk Products has reiterated its $6.60-$7/kgMS forecast for 2011-12.