Fonterra's move to cut the amount it sells on its global dairy auction appears to have worked.

The grass-fed meat has fewer calories, less cholesterol or fat than beef, and consumers can't seem to get enough.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson responds to criticism last week that Fonterra has been a failure.

Created in 2001, Fonterra was heralded as an "icon of economic transformation", a "breakthrough idea", "helping NZ catch the knowledge wave".

State-owned farmer Landcorp said its profit fell by 84 per cent due mostly due to lower milk and lamb prices.

The country's trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher.

Fonterra's new $230 million high-efficiency milk powder plant at its Pahiatua site has processed its first milk.

The international dairy trade has become the most volatile of all commodities markets.

An insider trading inquiry into A2 Milk Co suitor, Dean Foods, is understood to have scuppered its takeover attempt.

DairyNZ chairman John Luxton says it some TPP players are seeking to maintain trade protection rather than reduce it.

Farmers were given cause for cautious optimism after global dairy auction prices rallied by almost 15 per cent, ending a 10-sale losing streak.

More than 50 industries have been identified by the Government as high-risk, meaning they will be not exempt from some requirements under the Health and Safety Reform law.

Dairy farm prices are dropping, according to the Real Estate Institute of NZ (REINZ).

Wholemilk powder prices rallied by 19.1 per cent at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Landcorp should be lined up for a partial privatisation to inject new private capital into the company instead of selling off farm assets at the bottom of the dairy cycle, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

I like to see the glass half full, and I have the facts to back that view. If you still want to see the glass half empty - you're the loser, writes Mike Hosking.

Finance Minister Bill English won't rule out state farming company Landcorp having to sell more farms than usual to ensure it is not too loaded with debt.

Fonterra's market share in the South Island has slipped beneath the 80 per cent threshold specified in its enabling legislation, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy says.

Fonterra's forecast of a 2 per cent fall in milk production this season is looking more conservative by the day as farmers cull stock.

Fonterra's market share in the South Island has slipped beneath 80 per cent ending pro-competition provisions.

"There's nothing more depressing than knowing when those big tankers come on to your farm you are paying Fonterra to take your milk away."

Finance Minister Bill English remains confident about the prospects for economic growth, despite recent dairy woes.

Fonterra says it is significantly reducing the amount of product it puts up for sale on the GlobalDairyTrade auction platform over the next 12 months.

British farmers held an emergency summit this week, amid warnings that many are facing financial ruin because of plunging milk and meat prices.

Fonterra has been put on credit watch with negative implication by ratings agency Standard and Poor's.

Yes, these are tough times for dairy farmers but we should trust those with the industry's interests at heart, writes Mike Hosking.

Andrew is spending the week trying to scare the bejesus out of us over dairy.

Our senior business leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the slowing economy, the Government's strategy and our reliance on China and dairy exports.

Downbeat economic commentary continued to flow yesterday, with Westpac saying it expects New Zealand's annual GDP growth to dip below 2 per cent, while ANZ's Truckometer is pointing to a clear....