The Reserve Bank has once again sounded a warning about dairy farm debt but, for the time being, farmers seem to be coping with the financial stress brought about by lower milk prices.

Founder of breakout dairy brand wants to bring farmers' markets to the supermarket, finds Holly Ryan.

Reserve Bank has asked the country's five biggest rural lenders to conduct a "stress test" of their exposure to dairy farm debt, and had encouraged them to set aside provisions .

Top economist says "racist attitudes" towards Chinese immigration and investment could damage a relationship with China that promises to deliver "big waves".

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says losing Chinese market share to European dairy competitors is a concern for New Zealand.

China's Yashili NZ has this afternoon officially opened its $220m infant formula manufacturing plant in Pokeno.

Farming is largely a long term intergenerational business. But what could that future look like?

Area labelling is sure to be extended in the upcoming free trade talks with the European Union, writes Audrey Young.

New Zealand has about 720,000ha of land under irrigation, but about half that again could be sustainably irrigated by 2025, an industry body says.

Global interest in a Kiwi-designed electric farm bike is exploding.

Any chance of an upgrade in Fonterra's farmer payout became more remote today after a big drop in world dairy prices.

A new frost-fighting invention known as the 'Heat Ranger' is being trialled, with the hope it will be able to protect crops next winter.

Fonterra's Sri Lanka business has fully recovered after a 2013 food safety scare sparked public protests and forced the temporary closure of its operations there.

Fonterra said it had sold its 9 per cent stake in Australia's Bega Cheese, which it has held since 2013, for A$74 million.

The price for New Zealand's key dairy export, whole milk powder, may drop about 5 per cent at this week's GlobalDairyTrade auction amid lacklustre demand.

The New Zealand dollar is heading is largely unchanged against the greenback after the Federal Reserve's move to keep open a potential rate hike.

China's decision to abandon one-child policy could have positive spinoffs for the New Zealand dairy industry by boosting demand for infant formula.

China's decision to allow all married couples to have two children will be supportive for the New Zealand dairy industry, but only "at the margin", ANZ Bank said in a commentary.

Fonterra said its milk production hit a seasonal high of 86.9 million litres on October 22 - down 3 per cent from last season's peak.

Farmers might have to pay for their emissions like everyone else under a revision of the Government's main climate change policy.

Tourism is edging closer to dairy as New Zealand's top export earner with a 17 per cent boost to nearly $12 billion in the past year.