Fonterra has announced an opening forecast farmgate milk price of $4.25/kgMS for the 2016/17 season, an increase of 35 cents on the forecast for the current season.

Fonterra has confirmed it will pay part of its forecast final dividend earlier, to support farmers during a time of extremely tight on-farm cash flows.

Fonterra's partnership with Chinese company Beingmate was celebrated in style last week.

A farmers' forum to be held next month will help farmers understand the current financial climate and what they can do to manage through it, says DairyNZ.

Fonterra has shifted one billion litres of milk into its high returning consumer and foods business over the past 18 months, chief executive Theo Spierings claims.

Fonterra earnings and profit are well up for the first half of this financial year.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson says he is absolutely confident dairying will recover back to sustainable pricing levels for farmers.

Fonterra's 'Black Tuesday' announcement last week that the current season forecast payout will be cut to $3.90/kgMS poses a number of questions.

Fonterra doesn't believe it will take much to change the global dairy market, but it expects very little change this year.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says dairy exports and imports have been imbalanced for the past 18 months.