The New Zealand Dairy Awards is taking a leaf out of cricket's book to make the competition more interesting.

'What wine should we drink with dinner tonight – red, white, rosé or orange?'

The "once in a lifetime opportunity to spend a week with other like-minded farmers and world class presenters" was the impetus for farmer Blair Drysdale to apply for the Rabobank Farm Managers Program.

A member poll by Federated Farmers shows 11.1% of dairy farmers are now under pressure by banks over their mortgages. 

Subsidies handed to European farmers are partly responsible for the dip in global dairy prices, says Federated Farmers Dairy chairman Andrew Hoggard.

NZ dairy farmers are being encouraged to be vigilant about bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) which DairyNZ says affects up to 60% of dairy cows and 90% of herds.

As the cows cram into Randal Inch's milking shed you realise space is at a premium on this small North Canterbury dairy farm on the outskirts of Rangiora.

Young leaders in New Zealand's primary industries are essential for increasing the future prosperity of the sector.

An award winning rotary milking technology is helping a New Zealand company make inroads into overseas markets.

Global dairy prices are unlikely to start rising until later this year, weighed down by European production and global economic uncertainty, says Fonterra chairman John Wilson.