Written by Rachel Martin
This week’s Dutch dairy auction has seen the full haul with significant increases posted across all four of the main dairy commodities today (March 10).
It’s significant for the market locally as the main trade for European skimmed and whole milk powder, butter and whey.
Prices
Butter was the biggest winner, up €300 on the week before, reaching €4,070/t (excluding VAT). It makes this week’s price the highest since March 2019.
Whole milk powder was also up €200, reaching €3,200/t (ex-VAT), beating the 2019 peak of €3,130.
Skimmed milk powder was fetching €2,380, just a smidge higher than the €2,330 offered in March 2020, but 36% higher than the same month in 2019.
Whey was also up 27% compared to March 2020 at €970/t, reaching the highest it has been in the last three years.
Dairy advisor Jason McMinn of Farmgate Consultancy explained it was positive news for the industry locally, suggesting price rises should soon be on the cards.
“The European and NZ milk auctions have both rose to levels where a 30p/L base could be possible soon for milk,” he said.
“The last time we were here before was in March 2013, when the Dale Farm base price went from 27.2p/L to 30p/L in a single month, with feed, milk and fuel all at similar prices.
“So, the message is: Enjoy the good milk price; get a decent buffer established in your bank account before investing; spend your money on items which improve productivity, draining, ploughing, reseeding, fencing; and don’t accumulate hire-purchase and loans which you will have to pay for during the inevitable downturn – pay for investments out of cash flow.”
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