Jamie Gray writes: For Fonterra's farmers, investors and employees the severity of the dairy downturn will become clear early next month.

Trade Minister Tim Groser and Deputy US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler got into Hawaii early last weekend to set the scene for a high-powered ministerial meeting to thrash out the bones of the....

Freedom Foods and Dean Foods are said to be in no hurry to up their bid for A2 Milk Co after the milk marketer this week told its suitors to try again, after an initial offer wasn't compelling and drew out as yet unnamed rival bidders.

Having its main office in Auckland is a big part of the dairy giant's problem, writes Brian Gaynor.

Silver Fern Farms, NZ's biggest meat processor says it is considering raising $100m in fresh capital.

A key industry is suffering, but other economic signs paint a happier picture, writes Brian Fallow.

France's meat and dairy producers halted traffic and blocked tourist sites in several regions to protest low prices.

BNZ has lowered its 2015/16 milk price forecast for Fonterra but says it expects dairy prices to recover late this year.

Open Country has told its farmers that their forecast payout has been cut back due to slumping world dairy prices.

NZX dairy futures prices are trading at a discount to the physical market in the aftermath of a worse-than-expected GDT auction.

Dairy giant Fonterra cut 523 jobs yesterday - in a bid to cut its payroll bill by up to $60 million a year - on a day of bad news for the economy.

Hundreds of Fonterra employees and thousands of its farmer-shareholders have been dealt the twin blows of impending job losses and the prospect of a much lower farmgate milk price.

The New Zealand dollar dropped to a six-year low after a surprisingly sharp slump in dairy prices fuelled concerns about the broader economy.

Reserve Bank may take interest rates to a new record low by October.

Chief Theo Spierings admits news unsettling for staff as co-op tries to reduce its payroll bill by up to $60m a year.

Liam Dann says axing 523 jobs may make financial sense to Fonterra's chiefs but the dairy slump is bigger than that.

Fonterra's board will consider its current farm gate milk price forecast for 2015/6 at its next meeting on August 7, a spokesman for the co-operative said.

Dairying is one of a number of industries facing a possible labour shortage.

After years of gains, the New Zealand dollar is finally in retreat.

Rural rollout will help put an end to the town and country divide, says Vodafone's Russell Stanners.

Whitianga dairy farmer Dirk Sieling sees a strong future in the dairy industry.

Can agriculture save the world before destroying it, asks Steven Carden.

Investment, innovation and hard work may be wasted if we head in the wrong direction, says Damien O'Connor.

Sheep milk products may become a Holy Grail as the agricultural industry continues to diversify, writes Tim McCready.

A $16.65m programme to develop new ways to process food could add $250m a year to NZ's export earnings.

Three key strategic disciplines will create more product value, writes Hamish Gow.

Challenges faced by a major meat industry player of a previous era in pursuing its branded strategy will sound familiar.

Jamie Gray reviews the roller-coaster year in the primary sector where horticulture, beef and wine have been shining lights.

Some farmers need to get better at budgeting to weather the slow-down in dairying, says David McCall of DairyNZ.