Fonterra has affirmed its guidance for the 2016 milk payout to farmers, although chairman John Wilson said it was dependent on next year's global dairy prices.

Should Kiwi farmers become foodies?

The stock, which is listed on both sides of the Tasman, traded as high as $1.27 - a 16.5 per cent gain on the opening price - before closing up 11.9 per cent at $1.22 last night.

Dairy prices look to have finally bottomed out and tentative signs have emerged in the futures market that they may soon improve.

Failed Crafar Farms bidder and fraud case defendant May Wang was back in the High Court at Auckland today.

International dairy prices are at a "particularly bad" part of the cycle, but are expected to improve substantially in the first half of next year.

Dissidents want to trim the dairy giant's board - is it just a bid to lift performance, or a sign of deeper political tensions?

The August-September price bubble has popped, according to a dairy broker.

An improved financial performance from Fonterra over the first quarter is serving to at least partly counterbalance a decline in global dairy prices.

The New Zealand dollar was little changed against the greenback this afternoon as investors continue to weigh up whether the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates next month.

In 2014/15, dairy companies processed 21.3 billion litres of milk containing 1.89 billion kilograms of milksolids.

There's some good news from the dairy sector today, with Fonterra saying its financial performance is improving.

Consumer and food service came in at $408 million, up 216 per cent on the previous year's.

Fonterra boss Theo Spierings wasn't mincing his words this week when asked about rival Synlait Milk's moves to sell cut-price infant formula in China.

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.