Any increase in farmer confidence comes from the dairy sector and even that is off a low base. That is one of Federated Farmers' conclusions from its 2012/13 Mid-Season Farm Confidence Survey.

Waterways in some parts of the Waikato have now dropped to flows which trigger restrictions on water takes, and the threat of this happening in other parts of the region is increasing, the Waikato Regional Council says.

A Morrinsville farmer has been fined more than $33,000 for illegally discharging dairy effluent into the environment. The volume of effluent was such that cows' udders were dragging in it.

Three upcoming Waikato SMASH (Smaller Milk and Supply Herds) events will tackle three thought-provoking topics – energy use, pasture persistence and robotic milking.

Westland Milk Products customers are being assured food safety and human health has not been put at risk by the discovery of traces of DCD in some of its own samples this week.

Judging gets underway this week in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

The Alliance Group is now supplying Pure South beef, venison and lamb to a restaurant in Singapore's iconic waterfront precinct.

The Red Meat sector will get $32 million in PGP funding for a collaborative programme to push for the adoption of best practice by sheep and beef farmers.

There’s a big difference between farmers being experienced with quad bikes and being competent to use them across a wide range of tasks according to Ona de Rooy, general manage health and safety operations at the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MIBE).

Lamb producers could learn from New Zealand tourism by targeting top-end Chinese markets, says Westpac economist Nathan Penny.