The future of New Zealand’s primary export sector will depend on its ability to respond to an evolving trading environment.

Farming has been under the microscope this month with three heavyweight Government reports — on water quality, climate change and Mycoplasma bovis — all appearing in just three days.

Premium lamb brand Te Mana Lamb took out the New Zealand Food Safety Primary Sector Products and Frozen categories at the New Zealand Food Awards.

The Lalich family have found success with Pottinger for their dairy farm and contracting business at Ngarua, near Morrinsville, where a manager looks after the farm, leaving father Trevor, and son Daniel free for the contracting work.

No ‘magic bullet’ exists for managing a farm environmental footprint, says Ngai Tahu Farming’s general manager of dairy, Shane Kelly.

Fonterra farmer shareholders will this week receive voting papers for the 2018 director election.

As in the other primary sectors, dairy is experiencing a demand for labour, says Jane Muir, DairyNZ people team manager.

Former Fonterra director Leonie Guiney is keen to return to the board and contribute to “a simpler, more disciplined but successful cooperative”.

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

Fonterra board member Ashley Waugh is in a unique position going into this year’s Fonterra director elections in which three seats are being vacated.