As we bid farewell to another year it’s time for the annual review of 2018 in the primary sector as seen by the Rural News editorial team.

No one is more passionate about breeding better dairy cows than Ray Lawrence, Taranaki.

The Fonterra board needs real farmers with their own skin in the game, says would-be director John Nicholls.

Rugby played a big role in New Zealand gaining a world-leading soil scientist, Professor Mike Hedley.

Protecting and nurturing the environment for future generations is a key tactic in the refreshed dairy industry strategy, Dairy Tomorrow. South Canterbury dairy farmer Andy Palmer is showing how it's done.

The advent of Brexit and changing demographics in Ireland are contributing to an expansion of Irish dairy farming, as is the scrapping of the EU milk quotas; farms are now growing in size.

A key contributor to the dairy industry for 20 years, Justine Kidd, was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours for services to dairy and equestrian last month.

One of the largest freehold high country stations in Wanaka is now for sale, with strong national and international interest expected.

When Philip Manson began working for New Zealand Winegrowers he knew very little about wine.

Doug Bell spent the last 32 years vowing he would never plant Sauvignon Blanc.