Global Dairy Trade Recovery Puts $9.50 Milk Price Within Reach
A solid recovery of global dairy prices this year makes a $9.50/kgMS milk price almost a shoo-in for this season.
Listed milk processor Synlait has announced an opening forecast base milk price of $8/kgMS for the new season.
The company, with milk plants in Canterbury and Waikato, says it has taken a conservative approach to its forecasts given the exposure to future global dairy commodity prices, which are volatile in nature, at the beginning of the season.
The company is sticking to the 2023-24 forecast base milk price of $7.80/kgMS.
Synlait says its farmer suppliers have received, on average, $0.28/kgMS incentives above the base milk price for the last two seasons. The company is forecasting to pay similar incentives for the next two seasons.
“Forecasts are based on the best information available to Synlait at the time. Synlait will continue to monitor movements and keep farmer suppliers updated as required,” it says.
The final milk price for the 2023-24 season will be confirmed when the company’s full year result is released in September. The 2024-25 season forecast will also be updated at the same time.
Earlier this week, Fonterra announced as opening forecast range of $7.25-$8.75/kgMS, with a midpoint of $8/kgMS.
The co-op says milk supply and demand dynamics remain finely balanced and China import volumes have not yet recovered to historic levels.
“Given the early point in the season, the uncertainty in the outlook and ongoing risk of volatility in global markets, we are starting the season with a cautious approach,” the co-op says.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has added its perspective to numerous primary sector voices urging the Government to strengthen its draft legislation to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The Commerce Commission has finalised new information disclosure requirements for local councils and water organisations that deliver water supply and wastewater services.
Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) is calling for significant changes to the Government’s reforms to the Resource Management Act (RMA).
NZPork says the Government needs to strengthen its proposed planning laws to ensure New Zealand's pig farmers can continue to produce pork.
Good news for kiwifruit growers - a record crop with forecast per hectare returns at record levels for all fruit categories for the 2025-26 season.
As guests gathered on what is known as the Speaker's Lawn - a beautifully manicured patch of grass behind the main buildings of Parliament - to mingle and enjoy a lamb chop to celebrate National Lamb Day, the mood was very much upbeat.

OPINION: The proverbial has really hit the fan in Wellington and exposed a glaring example of a double standard in…
OPINION: Dark suited spin doctors exist to, well, spin, and the nice cuddly progressive types at Greenpeace Aotearoa practice this…