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 have fallen again and supply expectations out of New Zealand might be at play.
The Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price index fell 1.9% overnight, compared to the previous auction.
Whole milk powder price dropped 1.2% to US$2753/metric tonne, causing further downward pressure on forecast milk payouts.
Westpac’s head of NZ strategy, Imre Speizer says supply expectations may have weighed on the latest GDT auction.
He notes that growing conditions in NZ are good.
More milk out of NZ means more dairy products available on the global market, causing prices to dip.
Key results
AMF index down 4.4%, average price US$5,069/MT
Butter index down 5.9%, average price US$4,016/MT
BMP index up 3.6%, average price US$2,522/MT
Ched index down 1.2%, average price US$3,468/MT
LAC index up 0.6%, average price US$913/MT
RenCas index up 3.0%, average price US$5,552/MT
SMP index down 0.3%, average price US$1,982/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index down 1.2%, average price US$2,753/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.