Synlait Milk has dropped its forecast price by 60 cents and economists are picking others will soon follow suit.

The Canterbury based company had forecast a payout of five dollars per kilo of milk solids for the 2015 financial year, but today that's been revised down to $4.40.

ANZ Rural Economist Con Williams says that matches ANZ's own estimates, and believes Fonterra will soon drop its price too.

Williams says it's shaping up to be a tough year for dairy farmers, with $4.40 below the break even point for most.

"If you look at $4.40, that's below break-even and then you include finance costs for a large portion of dairy farmers, so it's going to be a struggle."

Williams says cash-flow for farmers will be tight through-out 2015, and possibly even 2016.