It was “incredibly confronting” for Taupo farmers to be told in about 2000 that their farms were polluting the lake and they would probably have to go, says Mike Barton, of Glen Emmreth Farm at Lake Taupo.

Agriculture is the industry with the highest number of workplace fatalities – about 124 deaths since 2011, says WorkSafe chief executive Nicole Rosie.

The deal NZ has in the now-negotiated Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership is the best we could have expected, says NZ’s special agricultural trade envoy.

All Southland plus Otago’s Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and Clutha districts are now declared officially in drought.

The total number of farms infected with the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis has reached 21.

‘A season to remember’ and ‘a profitable year for all sectors’: economic forecasters have a rosy outlook for the year.

Publicity on recent outbreaks of exotic Mycoplasma bovis could teach New Zealand farmers plenty about onfarm biosecurity and contagious mastitis.

Westland says damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Fehi has halted production at its Hokitika plant.

Fonterra is heading for a bigger financial disaster over its shaky investment in Chinese company Beingmate, says Chinese dairy expert Jane Li.

Testing for bacterial disease Mycoplasma bovis is being stepped up around the country.