Fonterra trials new seasonal payment to help farmers avoid volatility NEW Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-Operative Group is piloting a program that will allow its farmer-shareholders to lock in a price for their milk over a season rather than being subject to the whim of global commodity prices and the volatile New Zealand dollar. The pilot program will run for the 12 months ending May 31, 2014, and will allow those participating to lock in a price for 75 per cent of the milk that they sell to Fonterra, the dairy company said in a statement. The price would be set in May 2013.