Dairy industry leader Andrew Hoggard supports the idea of opening Fonterra shares to overseas milk suppliers – but not townies.

Dairy farmers are being warned to keep a lookout for a common virus which may be becoming more virulent in New Zealand herds.

Fonterra is maintaining its forecast guidance but with a note of caution on some emerging headwinds, director John Monaghan says.

A major Westland Milk Products strategy is to increase the amount of value added products versus commodity milk powder.

Westland Milk Products’ (WMP) new chief executive says shareholders in the cooperative feel completely gutted at the performance of the co-op and they have every right to feel that way.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson says overseas milk suppliers could be allowed to own shares in the co-op.

There have been negativities around farmers saying the sheep sector is declining.

Chinese regulators are cracking down on infant formula brands, saying too many brands are confusing consumers.

Milk powder rose $48 million in value in January 2017, despite the quantity exported falling by around 19,000 tonnes or 9.4%, Statistics New Zealand says.

Despite its large dairy herds, China is still a long way from self-sufficiency in dairy.