Farmers’ fears about the outcome of the election and a new-look government have led to a slight drop in overall confidence in the latest Rabobank farmer confidence survey.

Fonterra will this month recoup $193 million from its farmers -- some of the special loans made two years ago at the depth of the dairy downturn.

Fonterra is defending chief executive Theo Spierings’ hefty $8 million pay packet, saying he hit “far-reaching and demanding targets” set by the board.

Doing it once and doing it right is a great guiding philosophy for upgrading farm effluent systems.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has done at least 15000 tests for Mycoplasma bovis.

Lower replacement rates and higher body weight/lower stocking rates are the two most effective of five available ways of cutting dairy greenhouse gas emissions, a scientist has told a workshop for rural professionals.

The confidence boost from winning the 2010 Dairy Trainee of the Year award is propelling a young sharemilker along a valuable career track, he says.

Australia's key dairy region is facing a “supply chain revolution,” says Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey.

The dairy industry has endorsed an international agreement on global sustainable dairy development.

A plantain shown able to slash nitrogen leaching from urine patches is an “important and exciting finding,” says DairyNZ spokesman Bruce Thorrold.