Global dairy prices have made further gains overnight.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The average price climbed 3.2 percent to $US3313 a tonne at the latest auction.
It marked the fifth consecutive rise and the dairy index is now at its highest level in about three years.
The important whole milk powder price rose 1.3 percent to $US3312 per tonne.
Prices have stabilised in recent weeks and point to a payout of $6 per kilo of milk solids for the current season.
Farmers still have a long way to go to meet some water clean-up targets, but the work done so far should be acknowledged, Dairy NZ says.
A fall in sheep numbers is unsurprising and reflects the challenges farmers have faced in the last two years, Beef and Lamb New Zealand says.
Fonterra Australia won't follow Murray Goulburn's decision to axe its controversial repayment program.
A group of farmers near Whakatāne are working with the regional council to try and improve water quality by changing the way they farm.
Fonterra won't say if it will repay Australian farmers millions of dollars in milk payout money it took back.
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