Former president of Wanganui Federated Farmers says dairy farming is responsible for 80 per cent of the degradation of New Zealand waterways.

COMMENT: Why should commercial bottlers of water privately profit from this scarce public resource without paying?

Hopes are running high that the first GlobalDairyTrade (GDT) auction for 2016/17 will show an improvement in dairy prices.

COMMENT: If international consumers are prepared to pay for bottled water rather than a product such as milk, beer or juice, we should seize the chance.

Farmers overall remain satisfied with their banks, according to a Federated Farmers survey.

The milk price of $4.25 per kg remains well below DairyNZ's $5.25 per kg estimate of breakeven.

Zespri has clocked up another record year for returns, partly reflecting a strong rebound from devastating effects of the Psa outbreak in 2010, but also robust demand for the relative newcomer to the kiwifruit scene - gold.

New Zealand posted a bigger-than-expected trade surplus in April as volumes of kiwifruit and apples drove exports.

Zespri reported a bumper year for 2015/6, with the biggest-ever total return to growers.

Australian dairy farmers want the government's help in gaining security around milk prices.

It's not only NZ dairy farmers unhappy about farm gate prices.

Dairy prices ended the 2015/6 season on a firm note with the GlobalDairyTrade price index rising by 2.6 per cent at this morning's auction.

New Zealand needs to develop a new primary sector story to help sell its products to the world, trade envoy says.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders will vote next month on whether to accept governance changes to trim the board.

NZ's relationship with the Philippines is in great shape and growing as the two countries celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations.

The Ports of Auckland must be moved for the growth and prosperity of the city, say three mayoral candidates.

Fonterra says part of forecast final dividend will be moved up to ease low-price pain.

A mild improvement in dairy prices is expected at this week's GlobalDairyTrade auction - the last for the 2015-16 season.

Fonterra has enlisted the help of Richie McCaw to help show the co-operative is not a "faceless corporate".

Expensive farm equipment is sitting idle on farms around the country. MachineryLink Sharing wants to change that.

New Zealand has a productivity problem. We produce less per hour than most of the rest of the OECD and we aren't catching up.

Fonterra said the price change better reflects the reality of the supply and demand imbalance affecting global dairy prices.

New Zealand's largest meat processor will hold a special meeting of shareholders on its planned tie up with China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius.

Grease found on a quantity of export-bound kiwifruit early this month did not pose a risk to consumer safety.

Gary Helou, managing director of Australia's biggest dairy company has resigned after the company lodged its second major earnings downgrade of this year.

Mystery has enveloped the ginseng industry-the biggest customer for a small Canadian county has disappeared.

Workers weren't allowed time off, including a pregnant woman who was told she'd be laid off if she took maternity leave.

Export growth is on the cards for the Kiwi wine industry this year amid rising global demand, says rural lending specialist Rabobank.