Fonterra says part of forecast final dividend will be moved up to ease low-price pain.

Housing debt got all the attention yesterday, but dairy debt remains near the top list of Reserve Bank of the threats to the economy.

Dairy prices fell at the Global Dairy Trade auction overnight.

Attend the South Island Dairy Event 2016 in Invercargill and invest in yourself and your business.

Dry stock farmers' salaries have grown strongly in the past year, according to Federated Farmers and Rabobank's 2015-16 employee remuneration report.

COMMENT: NZ's not going to run short of water any time soon because of a growing taste in China for the stuff.

Workers weren't allowed time off, including a pregnant woman who was told she'd be laid off if she took maternity leave.

NZX's milk price contract due for launch next month stands a good chance of success, despite the failure of most futures contracts.

The Chinese dairy producer will soon be selling infant formula on NZ supermarket shelves.

Signals that New Zealand could secure a better deal on its Free Trade Agreement with China is a "beacon of hope" for our dairy industry, said the head of an export association.

The New Zealand dollar surged to a fresh 10-month high above US70c yesterday as dairy prices rose further than expected.

Dairy prices continued to firm at the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, with the GDT price index gaining 3.8 per cent driven mostly by a big gain in whole milk powder prices.

Low milk prices continued to weigh on dairy farm prices in the first three months of the year, according to data from the Real Estate Institute of NZ.

Fonterra has continued to lose farmers to its competitors, based on latest production data.

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.

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

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

Farmers will have the opportunity to hedge their bets on the farmgate milk price when the NZX launches a milk price futures contract next month.

Price increase welcome, but analyst sees little prospect for a strong recovery soon.

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.