Nearly 90pc of Fonterra's 10,500 farmer shareholders have voted to approve a new share trading plan.

Fonterra's farmer shareholders today voted in favour of the Trading Among Farmers proposal, approving plans to make its stock tradeable among themselves, freeing up capital for new investments.

Fonterra's farmers are voting today on whether to allow trading of shares in the co-op among themselves.

Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier says tomorrow's vote on whether to start share-trading among farmers is the most important decision for its farmers since the co-op was created.

At the age of three Fonterra's supply chain boss was sucked into a fuel pump - now safety is top of his list.

The dairy industry will pump $1 billion extra into the economy based on next season's Fonterra milk price forecast, says Westpac bank.

Fonterra farmers have been told their average cheque for next season may soar to record heights.

Fonterra today announced an opening forecast payout for the 2010/11 season of $6.90-$7.10 and said the full payout for the season might top $8.00.

The qualities that helped Craig Norgate reshape New Zealand's rural landscape have contributed to his undoing.

Sir Henry van der Heyden has urged dairy farmers to shore up their businesses against possible future volatility.

Farmers' economic confidence improved in the first months of 2010, boosted by sheep and beef prices.

Fonterra has announced it is increasing its forecast milk price payout by 40 cents, to $6.10 per kg.