Waikato farmer Elaine Cook has been elected to the DairyNZ board.

DairyNZ says its focus on farm profit last year is paying dividends.

Primary Industry Minister Nathan Guy has paid a glowing tribute to outgoing DairyNZ chairman John Luxton.

The dairy industry contributed 37% of the total value of New Zealand's primary industry exports in 2014-15.

Quality silage is a stable feed made from quality pasture preserved in the absence of oxygen by quality fermentation to minimise any loss of feeding value, says DairyNZ.

Fodder and sugar beets are shaping up to be the next big thing in grazing management, with the high yield, low cost option expected to take off in Australia as it has in New Zealand.

Investigations into methane at Ellinbank Research Farm, Victoria, Australia, have uncovered surprising and unexpected outcomes for milk production and animal health.

This season many sharemilkers are questioning their decision to go dairy farming, but Northland sharemilker Gavin Hogarth has tried different career options and smaller herd farming is the one that suits him best.

Weather forecasters are predicting an El Nino weather pattern this season which could be the strongest yet, resulting in a drought similar to the 1972-73, 1982-83 and 1997-98 events.

A new dairy grazing site near Taupo will be focused on heifers, says the owner, Wairakei Pastoral Ltd.