Northland community leaders gathered at Manaia View School in Whangarei yesterday to celebrate the first day of the Fonterra Milk for Schools programme.

FONTERRA CAN generate cash from within its business to finance growth but needs a stable capital base to do this, says chief executive Theo Spierings. He says TAF (trading among farmers) will ensure a strong capital base for Fonterra.

Fonterra is reducing its 2011-12 forecast payout by 15c/kgMS as a result of declining commodity prices and a soaring Kiwi dollar.

More than 10,000 Northland students will enjoy a daily drink of milk from March 19 as Fonterra Milk for Schools rolls into town.

A daily dose of dairy nutrition will be in the timetable for students at Northland's Kaiwaka Primary School from next month as the school becomes one of the first to take part in Fonterra Milk for Schools.

FONTERRA’S RECENT decision to cut local milk prices was welcomed by various consumer groups and others – including many self-serving politicians – all around New Zealand.

Fonterra farmers want the co-op to get on with TAF (trading among farmers), says chairman Henry van der Heyden.

FONTERRA SAYS it will present options addressing concerns about some aspects of Trading Among Farmers (TAF) during a round of meetings starting in late January.

Northland students will get free milk every school day from next year as part of a trial for Fonterra's new Milk for Schools programme.

THE CREAM of New Zealand's large dairy farmers will gather in Palmerston North in March for their annual conference.