Sales figures for farm sales reveal an increasing confidence in the rural sector, says a spokesman for the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ).

Rabobank's latest rural confidence survey has revealed a 13% rise in farmer confidence despite concerns about government policy.

Fonterra says its milk collection for the season just ended almost hit 1,540 million kgMS, 1.5% ahead of the previous season.

Working in the agri-nutrient sector, Calvin Ball says he has seen a significant change in farmers' attitudes to health and safety in recent years.

The Government has announced it will commit $4 million into relief funding for flood-affected Canterbury farmers.

Dairy farmers are encouraged to attend the upcoming joint New Zealand and Ireland Pasture Summit forum, which will address whether pasture is still the way forward.

Open Country Dairy (OCD) says it sees a time when farmers will be paid in full monthly for milk supplied.

A test to detect Johne's Disease and pregnancy from a single milk sample in cattle is being developed.

An AgResearch study shows that dairy sheep appear to have lower nitrogen leaching per hectare than their bovine counterparts. Dr Diana Selbie has been leading the MBIE-funded project looking at the environmental footprint of dairy sheep. Its aim is to provide some hard data to back up claims that this industry is more environmentally friendly. Peter Burke reports...

OPINION: In the May 18 Rural News (page 22) there was a joint opinion piece by Andrew Morrision, chair of Beef+Lamb NZ, Jim van der Poel, chair of DairyNZ and Andrew Hoggard, president Federated Farmers.