Milk Powder Prices Prop Up Farmgate Milk Price
Milk powder prices are keeping farmgate prices up, helping processors offset the dip in milk fat prices.
Global dairy prices continue their downward slide, with last night's auction seeing the average price index drop 1.3% to US$2,409/MT.
Anhydrous Milk Fat took the biggest hit with the average price dropping 8.9% to US$2,814/MT.
Decreases were also seen for Lactose, down 2.8% to US$525/MT, Skim Milk Powder down 0.2% to US$1,978/MT and Whole Milk Powder, which dropped a minimal 0.1% to US$2,327/MT.
However, it was not all bad news with several products gaining ground. Butter Milk Powder rose 10% with an average price of US$1,975/MT.
Rennet Casein increased 4.3% to US$6,126/MT.
Butter and Cheddar also saw an increase; Butter went up 3.3% with an average price of US$2,707/MT, while Cheddar rose 2.4% to US$2,814/MT.
Some 24,047 tonnes of product was sold, down from 27,711 tonnes of product two weeks ago.
Key Results
AMF index down 8.9%, average price US$2,814/MT
Butter index up 3.3%, average price US$2,707/MT
BMP index up 10.0%, average price US$1,975/MT
Ched index up 2.4%, average price US$3,128/MT
LAC index down 2.8%, average price US$525/MT
RenCas index up 4.3%, average price US$6,126/MT
SMP index down 0.2%, average price US$1,978/MT
WMP index down 0.1%, average price US$2,327/MT
Now in its fourth year, the 2026 Fencing Industry Awards, formed part of the proceedings of the FCANZ Conference, held in Nelson during August.
DairyNZ deputy chair Cameron Henderson has been re-appointed unopposed for another term.
OPINION: The stats speak for themselves.
Farms across the upper North Island are trialling different pasture mixes as part of a research programme that aims to build greater resilience into farming systems.
Election years are always a concerning time for farmers, according to DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown.
The Ballance Farm Environment Awards are coming to the West Coast of the South Island.