Trying to bridge the disconnect between urban customers and dairying is a motivation for seventh-generation dairy Nelson farmers Julian and Cathy Raine to start a new venture named Aunt Jean’s Dairy.

The milk powder manufacturing industry is in a ‘mature phase’ of its economic life cycle, an Australian report says.

While many people have rested from the stresses of work over Christmas and the new year, reality can be different for farmers.

The roads to the south have mostly reopened but the uncertainty remains for the dairy farmers of Kaikoura following the November 14 earthquake.

A key contributor to the dairy industry for 20 years, Justine Kidd, was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours for services to dairy and equestrian last month.

Dairy markets remain finely balanced but with most of the season’s product sold, farmgate milk price is expected to hold above $6/kgMS.

Fonterra has welcomed the announcement that New Zealand and Sri Lanka will progress discussions on new trade and investment opportunities, including the possibility of a FTA down the track.

Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard is worried that an appeal against a Greenpeace advertisement ruling on river pollution could prolong unfair media coverage.

GDT Global dairy prices were up slightly overnight, stemming two consecutive drops in the GDT price index.

Fonterra and LIC are in the final stages of developing an online tool, Agrigate, designed specifically to help farmers improve their farm performance through the use of their existing data.