While the All Blacks were well into planning their end-of-year tour, another group of Kiwis headed to the northern hemisphere in the middle of July during the European summer.

Nominations are open for two farmer-elected directors on DairyNZ board.

Fonterra can and should lead efforts within the agricultural sector to farm within environmental limits, says Carolyn Mortland, Fonterra’s director of social responsibility.

The farming sector has its head in the sand if it doesn’t realise water is a huge issue waiting to be tackled, says Labour’s primary industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor.

Utilising pasture while minimising soil damage are among the main issues dairy farmers have grappled with in early spring, says Andrew Reid, DairyNZ’s general manager extension.

Fonterra's new $150 million cheese plant in Australia will help meet growing demand, says the co-op’s Australia managing director René Dedoncker.

We need to be positive that our product can be premium and people will pay for it, says John Hayward of Judge Valley Dairies.

Dairy leaders have come together with other livestock and farming leaders to pledge their commitment to swimmable rivers for future generations.

Regions such as Mid-Canterbury enjoy a direct relationship between water use and employment, says Federated Farmers.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) hasn’t given up hope of eradicating the bacterial cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis despite its spread to a third South Island farm.