Fonterra has established its fifth application centre in China, but unlike the other four, the newest one is focused on beverage applications.

The battle lines are being drawn on the National Party's recently announced agricultural policy.

Some good news on the horizon for dairy farmers.

Dairy

Rabobank's latest Rural Confidence survey has found that while farmers' sentiments are still in deeply negative territory, they have crept up from historic lows in late 2022.

New Zealand runs the risk of being caught up in the economic war between China and the US, according to Rabobank's head of global economics and research, Jan Lambregts.

The country's second largest milk processor has slashed its forecast milk price range for the last third of this season by 50c.

OPINION: Many countries are doing their best to reduce emissions and achieve climate goals, China being an obvious exception.

A glimmer of hope for the country's dairy farmers under siege from a myriad negative challenges including rising input costs, interest rates, state-sponsored regulations and falling commodity prices.

OPINION: Reality is going to smack New Zealand in the face this year and it should be the wake-up call the Government needs to reset its priorities around agriculture.