Fonterra's first draft of suggested changes to its governance structure recommends the board's size be cut from 13 to 11.

Trade Minister Todd McClay says the Government is assessing the implications of recent regulatory changes in China's cross border e-commerce market.

Fonterra's first draft of its recommendations on the size and makeup of its board will be made public tomorrow.

NZX's planned new milk price futures contract can help bring stability to a dairy sector being hit by low returns, says visiting specialist Brian Rice.

International markets are "screaming out" for New Zealand apples.

New Zealand's biggest export - dairy - continues to suffer from oversupply and soft demand but other parts of the primary sector are booming.

World dairy production is slowing, which should push up prices in 2017, rural lending specialist Rabobank said in its quarterly outlook.

COMMENT: Sustainable farming is about doing business while doing good. It is about ensuring decent income and benefits while preserving our environment.

The Institute of Directors has made a case for adding independent directors to the boards of farming company operations.

NZX, the financial markets operator, is developing a new market offering New Zealand dairy farmers a way to lessen the risk of volatile milk prices.

"Pleasant surprise" at global dairy auction.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy gave a group of Waikato farmers a pep talk yesterday.

Fonterra could let farmer shareholders sell shares based on annual milk production to reduce debt, analysts say.

The NZX is expected to announce plans for a new milk futures contract tomorrow, which will be aimed at picking up where Fonterra's controversial guaranteed milk price scheme left off.

Strengthening NZ dollar, increased output from Europe and reduced imports from China add to poor outlook.

Fonterra stole the show during last month's sentencing of 1080 blackmailer Jeremy Kerr.

Fitch Ratings said growth in European milk production will further delay a recovery in global milk prices beyond 2016.

Synlait Milk said it was on track towards racking up its most profitable year ever after a big increase in infant formula sales drove its first-half earnings sharply higher.

Synlait expects premium payments to its farmer suppliers to double, mainly on the back of a boom in infant formula sales.

Non-compliant employment agreements, inaccurate employment records and paying holiday pay incorrectly among the breaches.

NZ-made Karicare formula has been pulled out of China, more than two years after the brand took a hammering following the Fonterra botulism scare.

COMMENT: Dairy farmers make milk. Banks provide loans. Dairy farmers are part of the private sector. The banks are the same.

'We are grinning and bearing it." That's how Taranaki sharemilker Charlie McCaig describes how he and his wife Jody are faring with a milk price.

COMMENT: McGrathNicol business partners Andrew Grenfell and Conor McElhinneyrs talk about the flow-on effects of low dairy prices.

Fonterra's increased dividend payment isn't enough for most farmers to pay their interest bill, says Jacqueline Rowarth.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it will take action against baby formula marketer Fernbaby if the company continues to make "therapeutic claims" about its products.

COMMENT: It is the nature of the Fonterra's unique corporate structure that bad times for commodities mean good times for the brands business.

Exporters paid a heavy price for the threat to contaminate infant formula with 1080.