The dairy market has gone sour literally overnight, leaving some farmers gumboot deep in debt.
Prices crashed to their lowest levels in nearly five years at the Global Dairy Trade Auction.
The average price fell 7.4 percent. It's the second consecutive fall and follows a 4.3 percent dip at the auction two weeks ago.
Demand from China's gone soft and experts say prices are unlikely to rebound before the end of the year.
Fonterra's already slashed its forecast milk price for the season; meaning some farmers are losing money.
Add to that the prospect of another interest rate rise and it paints a potentially dreary farmscape.
Federated Farmers Dairy Industry Group Chair Richard McIntyre spoke to Lisa Owen.
