Westland Milk Products' board is working to convince farmers to vote in favour of its sale to Chinese dairy giant Yili.

The loss of the Waiho Bridge, just south of Franz Josef, on the West Coast has been a “disaster” for dairy farmers.

OPINION: With most of New Zealand gripped by recent events in Christchurch, a huge week in our dairy industry passed with little media coverage.

Selling Westland Milk Products to the Chinese dairy giant Yili may be the right thing but will be the sad end of the cooperative, says Barrytown farmer Richard Reynolds.

The proposed sale of Westland Milk to Chinese company Yili is causing alarm among social media users.

Chinese dairy giant Yili says Westland Milk Co-op suppliers will benefit from a competitive milk payout and greater export opportunities.

Chinese dairy giant Yili will pay $588 million for dairy co-op Westland Milk, it was announced overnight.

More questions are being asked about the Government’s contentious $10 million loan to Westland.

Westland Milk Products says the DIRA is still needed, but with some changes.

Westland Milk has secured a $10 million loan from the Government to help build a new plant.