Friday, 19 May 2017 15:00

Less milk to help lift price

Written by 
Taranaki farmers at the DairyNZ Farmers Forum. Taranaki farmers at the DairyNZ Farmers Forum.

Lower milk production around the world will help keep the farmgate milk price high, says DairyNZ chairman Michael Spaans.

Opening the DairyNZ Farmers Forum in Taranaki today, Spaans noted that milk production had slowed in Europe and Australia.

While the US was still producing more milk, most of it was being absorbed by the domestic market.

Spaans says milk production across the globe, particularly Europe, has been constrained by lower milk prices …”quite a good thing for us”.

“When we find it tough, we have the resilience to keep going…. places like Europe and other producers who rely a lot on grain, they actually find it a lot tougher.

“We see it is holding back growth of milk production in Europe and this is certainly going to help our milk price going forward.”

Spaans noted that Australian milk production was “bit of a mess”, dipping quite significantly.

“The US is looking quite solid and growing but a lot of production is being absorbed by the domestic market; some milk is now starting to come into the world market.”

While milk production has slowed, global demand remains strong.

But Spaans had a word of caution for farmers; things can change quickly.

“From the lessons learnt during the last few seasons, we know these things change and we know that opening forecast can be wrong.”

He says farmers also know prices could move around during the year.

“We should ensure we farm profitably, remain cautious and use extra cash, if it does come through, wisely.”

More like this

Dairy power

OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.

Inequality 'is on the rise'

Economist Shamubeel Eaqub is warning that inequality between countries has fallen markedly over the past 200 years but inequality and political polarisation within countries was on the rise.

Featured

Pāmu farm opens gate to urban visitors

For many urban New Zealanders, stepping into Pāmu’s Pinta dairy farm near Taupo last month was the first time they had had the chance to experience farm life up close.

National

Machinery & Products

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

A true Kiwi ingenuity

The King Cobra raingun continues to have a huge following in the New Zealand market and is also exported to…

Data crucial to managing water

Watermetrics was formed as a water data collector and currently supplies and services modern technology such as flow meters, soil…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Dairy power

OPINION: The good times felt across the dairy sector weren't lost at last week's Beef + Lamb NZ annual meeting.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter