Milk companies are this week taking bulk milk samples from tankers in the southern region of the North Island as national surveillance for Mycoplasma bovis moves into areas with no known infection.

Chinese dairy expert Jane Li says Fonterra’s Anmum is struggling to gain a foothold in the country’s lucrative infant formula market.

Mycoplasma bovis infection has now been confirmed in animals on 23 properties, MPI has announced.

Fonterra’s forecast milk price of $6.40/kgMS looks a lot more achievable now, according to BNZ senior economist Doug Steel.

About 1000 people will this month travel to New Zealand for three prestigious animal recording and genetics conferences.

High temperatures and humidity are prompting questions about farm animals’ production, along with their welfare, AgResearch says.

Now operating under a nitrogen cap – with a cap also on stock units -- Mike Barton of Taupo’s Glen Emmreth Farm no longer runs breeding cows.

Your old mate was not shocked to see the new Labour-led government quickly repay its mates – and major funders – in the NZ union movement by changing the employment laws to favour its comrades in the organised labour lobby.

The future of food – especially the emergence of ‘synthetic foods’ and what this might mean for New Zealand as a major food producer – has been prominent in media and barbecue conversations this summer.

Dairy farmers buoyed by higher forecast milk payout are spending more on artificial breeding, says LIC.