While the latest floods in the lower North Island are not as widespread and therefore not in the same league as those of 2004, they are nonetheless distressing and devastating to many farming families.

DairyNZ says it is working alongside other groups to support farmers and ensure that around 5000 cows in central Manawatu and Horowhenua have enough feed for the winter after dozens of paddocks were flooded on dairy farms last week.

Setting popele up to be successful – that’s the challenge Massey University faces according to its new pro vice-chancellor, science, Professor Ray Geor.

A recently introduced premium range of goat feeding equipment from Stallion Plastics should hit the shelves in time for this year’s kid rearing season.

The chair of the Maori dairy company Miraka, Kingi Smiler, says his company is more resilient in lower payout years than Fonterra.

A recovery in global dairy prices is on the horizon but farmers may not benefit until next season, says Rabobank.

New Image's partner goat farm Oete Farms at Patumahoe will be the biggest in New Zealand when it grows from 2400 to 3000 goats next season, says Auckland-based New Image Group Ltd general manager Guy Wills.

Holstein Friesian New Zealand has elected its first female president at the recent annual conference.

Good effluent management requires having a well-designed system and processes for workers to ensure the effluent collected is applied to pasture in the right quantity at the right time, says DairyNZ.

Fonterra has announced a best-guess payout forecast of $5.25/kgMS for 2015-16. The bigger surprise was the final payout for 2014-15 of $4.40/kgMS, down another 10 cents.