An insider trading inquiry into A2 Milk Co suitor, Dean Foods, is understood to have scuppered its takeover attempt.

DairyNZ chairman John Luxton says it some TPP players are seeking to maintain trade protection rather than reduce it.

Farmers were given cause for cautious optimism after global dairy auction prices rallied by almost 15 per cent, ending a 10-sale losing streak.

More than 50 industries have been identified by the Government as high-risk, meaning they will be not exempt from some requirements under the Health and Safety Reform law.

Dairy farm prices are dropping, according to the Real Estate Institute of NZ (REINZ).

Wholemilk powder prices rallied by 19.1 per cent at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Landcorp should be lined up for a partial privatisation to inject new private capital into the company instead of selling off farm assets at the bottom of the dairy cycle, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

I like to see the glass half full, and I have the facts to back that view. If you still want to see the glass half empty - you're the loser, writes Mike Hosking.

Finance Minister Bill English won't rule out state farming company Landcorp having to sell more farms than usual to ensure it is not too loaded with debt.

Fonterra's market share in the South Island has slipped beneath the 80 per cent threshold specified in its enabling legislation, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy says.

Fonterra's forecast of a 2 per cent fall in milk production this season is looking more conservative by the day as farmers cull stock.

Fonterra's market share in the South Island has slipped beneath 80 per cent ending pro-competition provisions.

"There's nothing more depressing than knowing when those big tankers come on to your farm you are paying Fonterra to take your milk away."

Finance Minister Bill English remains confident about the prospects for economic growth, despite recent dairy woes.

British farmers held an emergency summit this week, amid warnings that many are facing financial ruin because of plunging milk and meat prices.

Fonterra says it is significantly reducing the amount of product it puts up for sale on the GlobalDairyTrade auction platform over the next 12 months.

Fonterra has been put on credit watch with negative implication by ratings agency Standard and Poor's.

Yes, these are tough times for dairy farmers but we should trust those with the industry's interests at heart, writes Mike Hosking.

PGG Wrightson, the rural services firm controlled by China's Agria Corp, beat its guidance with an 18.4 per cent gain in annual earnings, led by an improved performance for seed and grain.

Downbeat economic commentary continued to flow yesterday, with Westpac saying it expects New Zealand's annual GDP growth to dip below 2 per cent, while ANZ's Truckometer is pointing to a clear....

Finance Minister Bill English said today the Government would not be offering special financial support to dairy farmers in trouble because of low prices.

The number of mortgagee sales has jumped nationwide in the past quarter as worsening economic conditions and lower dairy payouts hit parts of provincial New Zealand.

Milk powder prices will need to improve substantially before Fonterra's revised farmgate milk price of $3.85 per kg of milk solids can become a reality, say analysts.

Fonterra lacks people who understand the impact of new and disruptive technologies, writes Keith Woodford.

Farmstrong, an initiative designed to give farmers the resources to live well focuses on areas applicable in any environment.

The US beef cow herd is expected to grow by more than three million head in the next three to five years.

Fonterra effectively overpaid farmers last year, sapping funds available to pay farmers at the end of the season.

Dairy farmer can't believe there are people in the industry being ''paid millions'' who have led farmers "up the garden path a bit".

New Zealand's listed companies are expected to present solid results to the market in the coming months but analysts are predicting cautious outlooks.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says farmers are "very strong and resilient" and he is confident low dairy prices will bounce back amidst market volatility.