Canterbury farmers Bruce and Susan Turpie love doing things differently on their 500ha farm.

Farmers supplying milk to Taupo-based dairy company Miraka continue to excel when it comes to on-farm practices.

A Waitomo farmer has been fined $21,739, including veterinarian expenses and costs, for docking the tails of cows.

Farmer co-operative LIC has reported increased revenue and profit in their end of financial year results published last month.

Buller dairy farmers hit by the recent floods are facing a critical situation as they try to get their damaged farms ready to cope with calving which starts in a couple of weeks.

DairyNZ says while it supports the view that all farmers should have regulated freshwater farm plans, it says these must not duplicate the good work already being done by farmers.

DairyNZ says it is encouraged by reports of good winter grazing practices this year, with farmers nudging other farmers to deliver on good practice too.

DairyNZ head consulting officer in the South Island, Tony Finch, says his first priority has been to get an accurate assessment of the extent of the damage on farms affected by the floods.

Otago Holstein Friesian breeder Tony Brock is somewhat of a rarity in dairy farming these days: he and wife Sarah have been 50:50 sharemilking on the same Kaitangata property for a quarter of a century.

It was all smiles earlier this year when LIC announced the latest bull to be added to its Hall of Fame at the co-operative's Newstead headquarters.