Russian President Vladimir Putin is a master tactician in taking advantage of international conflicts.

Russia's ban on imported agricultural products, including dairy products, is due to end in December 2017, boosting global dairy prices, says an industry report.

The fine milk and butter products of New Zealand have long had a good reputation in Russia. A journalist in central Russia, Nataliya Shkol'naya, sent Dairy News this exclusive, rare look into the ordinary citizen's view of dairy markets and embargoes.

New Zealand First says Italy and Hungary are breaking European ranks over Russian sanctions.

Your old mate is somewhat bemused by the eternal love affair Winston Peters has with Russia.

Global Dairy Trade prices are coming back relatively quickly and Fonterra expects whole milk powder prices to keep climbing over the next six months, says Fonterra chairman John Wilson.

While the the world’s farm machinery industry is feeling it tough, sitting alongside an agricultural sector that appears to be in the doldrums, it’s encouraging to hear one big company is looking to the future.

Milking technology supplied by Waikato Milking Systems (WMS) is helping a large-scale Russian farm double its 1000-cow milking herd and production.

After an uninspiring ten months, the start of 2015 has understandably created a great deal more optimism on the sellers’ side of global dairy markets. 

A disturbing element of Russia’s ban on dairy and other imports is that food trade has been politicised, says Kimberly Crewther, executive director of the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand.