Dairy farmers affected by the Mount Tongariro eruption are encouraged to keep an eye on their stock, advises DairyNZ.

There are no reports at this stage of stock being affected by yesterday's Tongariro eruption, and there is no indication that it has had any animal welfare effects.

Fonterra, Zespri and Massey University are among those who have joined forces with the Federation of Māori Authorities and the Māori Trustee to focus on increasing the productivity of Māori-owned farm land.

Fonterra, Zespri and Massey University are among those who have joined forces with the Federation of Māori Authorities and the Māori Trustee to focus on increasing the productivity of Māori-owned farm land.

The Fonterra Shareholders' Council has recommended farmers do not vote in favour of the shareholder proposal which is to be put forward at the annual meeting in December.

Farmers are aghast an independent analysis commissioned by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), for a Land & Water Forum (LawF) working group, has revealed the shocking impact of the Horizons One Plan upon agriculture.

Hundreds of women who work in the dairy industry will be tackling some of the big issues that affect today's farmers when they get together at the Dairy Women Network's annual conference in March 2013.

Fonterra has welcomed the third report of the Land and Water Forum and its goal of a "fair efficient and accountable" framework for deciding freshwater objectives.

Solid Energy has confirmed the sale of its Biodiesel New Zealand business to Pure Oil New Zealand (PONZ), a consortium owned 30% by vegetable producer Southern Packers, 30% by Midland Seeds, 20% by agronomist Roger Lasham, and 20% by former Biodiesel New Zealand manager and now PONZ managing director, Nick Murney.

LACK OF understanding of what it costs farms and processors to produce food is “one of our biggest challenges,” says Grassland Association president Jacqueline Rowarth.