Fonterra posed the question of whether a board stacked with farmers has the right skills to drive a global business.

Dairy Farms NZ - likely to list on the NZ stock exchange, has been given permission to buy up South Island farms.

Weakening world dairy prices have pushed Fonterra this morning to announce a cut in its payout to farmers.

Leading international credit rating agency has downgraded its outlook for New Zealand's economy.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said more pain lies ahead for farmers as dairy prices continue to weaken and as oil prices plummet.

Futures pricing is pointing to dairy prices flattening at tomorrow's GlobalDairyTrade auction as the sector continues to grapple with the same issues that held sway last year - oversupply and low....

New Zealand's second largest dairy processor has reduced its milk payout by 30 cents to an average price of between $4.00-$4.30 per kilogramme.

Fonterra's export volumes hit a record high of 300,000 tonnes in December - exceeding the previous record.

Dairy prices finished the year on a slightly firmer note at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction, the GDT price index gaining by just 1.9 per cent.

A series of recommendations have been made to overhaul the dairy sector after a system investigation sparked by the botulism scare.

The Reserve Bank has warned defaults on dairy loans will be likely as cash-flow shortage estimated at $1/kgMS.

Fonterra has maintained milk price at $4.60 per kilo, but scrapped a farmer support scheme.

Pressure is mounting on Fonterra to cut its farmgate milk price forecast at this week's board meeting, but it's looking like a close call.

Given the recent scrutiny applied to Fonterra's board size, Staples Rodway Director Tracy Hickman considers the optimal board - in theory and in practice.

Animal welfare group SAFE placed a graphic advertisement to shame NZ's dairy industry in the Guardian newspaper.

Fonterra has signed a deal with an Australian infant formula plant.

The New Zealand dollar was largely unchanged heading into the week's close as the Thanksgiving holiday in the US sapped trading activity.

The Fonterra Shareholders' Fund meeting heard the payout to farmers would be $390 million.

Fonterra's board and top management faced a tetchy reception at the annual meeting from shareholders looking at two straight years of low milk prices.

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.

Fonterra chairman, who had retired by rotation from the co-operative's board, has retained his seat after a shareholder election

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.