OPINION: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Fonterra directors and councillors are in for a pay rise next month.

Ashburton cropping and dairy farmer Matthew Paton has been elected to the board of rural services company, Ruralco.

The global agricultural landscape has entered a new phase where geopolitics – not only traditional market forces – will dictate agricultural trade flows, prices, and production decisions.

Feeding more than 1.5 million people a week takes more than quick service, it takes the ongoing work of New Zealand farmers and producers, according to McDonalds.

The chance of a $10-plus milk price for this season appears to be depleting.

Keep focused on things that can be controlled on farm.

According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad outcomes.

With life often a matter of timing, complemented by a portion of luck, it looks like Waikato farmer Matthew Darke’s timing of an order for a new tractor in July delivered an awful lot of the latter.

The number of beef straws going into dairy cows is on the increase, according to LIC beef genetics product lead Paul Charteris.