Listen: Fonterra update with Mike Borrie

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Yesterday Fonterra requested a temporary trading halt on the New Zealand and Australian stock exchange as the dairy co-op reviewed its earnings forecasts.

Fonterra's Head of Farm Source Northland Mike Borrie caught up with The Country's Rowena Duncum for a brief update on the situation.

"There may be a variation from the earnings guidance previously given to the market. We're currently working to determine if that's the case and we'll be in a position to update the market by close of business today."

Fonterra has surprised its farmers by sending out green tins full of goodies for the busy calving season, which is a great way for the co-op to "connect with our farmer base," says Borrie.

Listen below:

Another of Fonterra's initiatives is the Tiaki – your Sustainable Dairying Programme which has been running for a year now. Borrie says it's a great way for farmers to make their operations more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

"We offer services that really help our farmers proactively stay ahead of all the regulatory and compliance requirements which are becoming more and more difficult."

The programme is working well says Borrie as evidenced by Fonterra farmers erecting 22,000km of fencing and more than 1000 farmers completing a Farm Environment Plan.