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The most important asset on a farm is the farmer; a healthy farmer means a healthy business.

"When you have confidence you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun you can do amazing things." So said an American footballer by the name of Joe Namath.

Dairy farmers will be bracing for sombre news from Fonterra this Wednesday.

You know something is up in the farming world when three different government agencies are all casting a critical eye over the sector.

Dairy industry optimists have for months been talking up the future, saying things will improve.

No wonder they say, ‘Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach’.

While the talk rolls on about the reduced forecast payout, the vast majority of farmers are getting on with it.

Hardly a week goes by without another report of a quad accident on a farm. And those are only the reported ones; never mind those in which the riders escape serious injury and nothing is ever said or done.

The heat was certainly on the last round of Fonterra farmer meetings, as almost 2000 farmers turned up to hear the co-op explain its dismal half-year results.

Fonterra's half-year results make unhappy reading to its 10,500 farmers, many struggling with drought and a precariously low payout.