Small Waikato milk processor Tatua's payout has again left other dairy co-ops trailing behind.

Lobby group Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) says Silver Fern Farms shareholders must carefully scrutinise the proposed joint venture with Shanghai Maling.

Agriculture product sales growth in US, China and South America enabled Skellerup to increase its agri division earnings despite the slightly softer New Zealand market, says chair Sir Selwyn Cushing.

Farmgate milk price forecasts by at least two banks, ASB and BNZ, have now been hiked upwards to $5/kgMS for the 2015-16 season.

Fonterra is being urged not to force restrictions on the use of palm kernel expeller (PKE) without consulting farmers.

AgResearch chair Sam Robinson says the proposal for change has been well thought out.

Some farmers in Hawkes Bay have suffered big lamb losses as a result of the recent floods.

A farmer-backed consortium was planning to take to Silver Fern Farms a counter-offer to the $261 million buy-in by Chinese company Shanghai Maling, according to conjecture within the industry.

Claims that Silver Fern Farms approached the Government for funding and/or sought a meeting with Finance Minister Bill English for over a year have been debunked by the co-op's chair Rob Hewett.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients achieved record sales for its financial year ended 31 May 2015.