Morrinsville farmer Mark Hexter has a good reason to be feeling excited: three robotic milking machines will arrive on his farm next month from Lely, in the Netherlands.

The future ownership of Lochinver Station near Taupo remains in limbo. The Chinese company Shanghai Pengxin lodged a bid to buy the station last July, seeking approval from the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office (OIO).

Dargaville dairy farmer Bob Franklin is happy to fork out money for top heifer grazing if he gets a product worth $20,000 more over its lifetime.

It is costing dairy farmers an “awful lot of money” to have poorly grown heifers, says AgFirst consultant Gareth Baynham.

All eye are on Fonterra this week to see if it lifts its $4.70/kgMS forecast after the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Index price last week surged 10.1%.

Early bird registrations for the Dairy Women's Network conference are due to close on Saturday 28 February.

Entries are now open for the 2015 Rural Bachelor of the Year competition, held in the lead-up to, and during the NZ National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

Indian farm machinery maker Mahindra will show its expanded tractor range, including new offerings at both ends of the power spectrum, says national sales manager Russell Burling.

Tyres on maize and silage stacks could get the heave-ho in favour of UK-made Secure Covers, says Secure Cover System (NZ) sales manager Peter Wrightson.

Dairy farmers wanting to produce healthier and more efficient animals can now make this part of their breeding programme, says herd management firm CRV Ambreed.