ANZ Warns of Milk Price Risks as New Dairy Season Begins
The new dairy season is kicking off with plenty of risks to the forecast farmgate price, both upside and downside, says ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly.
Global dairy prices have slumped for the fourth straight time this year.
However, the drop was nowhere near the 5% to 10% predicted by futures market.
This morning's GDT event saw the auction price index down 2.8%.
Whole milk powder, Fonterra's flagship product on GDT, dropped 3.7% to US$1890/MT.
Skim milk powder was down 1.4% to US$1762/MT.
The continuing slide in dairy prices will put further pressure on Fonterra's current farm gate milk price of $4.15/kgMS.
Key Results from the latest GDT auction;
AMF index up 1.5%, average price US$3,527/MT
Butter index down 2.3%, average price US$2,834/MT
BMP index down 1.2%, average price US$1,496/MT
Ched index down 5.6%, average price US$2,535/MT
LAC index unchanged, average price US$574/MT
RenCas index down 11.5%, average price US$3,852/MT
SMP index down 1.4%, average price US$1,762/MT
WMP index down 3.7%, average price US$1,890/MT
With the New Zealand/India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) dominating political debate here, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting New Zealand next week.
Michelle and Tony Roberts didn't inherit the farming business they have today. They’ve built it from the ground up.
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Dr Tim Harwood, a seafood food safety research leader, has been awarded the 2026 Significant Contribution Award at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology (NZIFST) Food Industry Awards.
Today marks the first day of operations for Waikato Waters, a new council-controlled organisation established by six district councils to deliver water and wastewater services for their communities.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has announced has opened applications for the 2026/27 funding round of the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Research (GHGIR) fund.

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