New directions for Australian dairy heifer exports as Chinese market slows: Rabobank
The live export of dairy heifers – particularly to China – has been a lucrative market for Australian dairy farmers in recent years, offering significant trade opportunities and attractive prices for dairy cattle. But with Chinese demand for dairy heifers waning … and trade risks around Australia’s live export policy, the future prospects for the sector are far less certain, according to a new industry report by Rabobank.
Closure of King Island Dairy highlights the danger of foreign-owned food processing: Melina Morrison, BCCM
"Another sad day for dairy processing in Australia. Every time we lose food and beverage processing infrastructure in Australia, we move closer to being net importers of manufactured products even in staples like dairy ... Whatever the fate of the cheese factory, it’s timely to think about whether it’s in the long-term interests of Australian farmers and farm communities to have so much processing ownership held offshore": Melina Morrison.
TasFarmers urges corporate responsibility as King Island Dairy faces uncertain future
Tasmania’s peak farming body, TasFarmers, has expressed grave concerns about the potential closure of King Island’s iconic dairy operations, calling on the current owner to act as a responsible corporate citizen following its decision to close the milk island’s processing facility. TasFarmers president Ian Sauer said this news came at the worst possible time, as King Island grapples with the worst drought in over 100 years, ongoing shipping difficulties and the rising cost of doing business.
Australia’s top young dairy cattle judges selected for national finals
Australia's most promising young dairy cattle judges have been announced ahead of the Agricultural Shows Australia National Young Judges & Paraders Competition finals at the Melbourne Royal Show ... Katie Stanley, Executive Officer of Agricultural Shows Australia, says the competition is designed to recognise the best new talent in livestock judging nationwide.
Australia’s milk production continues recovery, as modest global supply growth forecast for year ahead: Rabobank
Australia’s milk production continues to recover, as global supply is forecast to grow at a modest rate in the coming year, Rabobank says in its newly-released Global Dairy Quarterly. In the Q3 report, titled Market Narratives are Shifting, the global agribusiness bank says positive – though modest – milk supply growth is expected from the world’s major dairy-exporting regions through the remainder of 2024 and in 2025.
“Kick in the guts” – Norco dumped as NSW health supplier
Local Nationals MPs have joined forces to call out the NSW Heath Department’s decision to scrap Norco supplied milk to hospitals from the Tweed to Port Macquarie, a move that could threaten the livelihoods of Northern Rivers dairy farmers ... "Given our 129-year heritage in the Northern Rivers region, we are naturally disappointed by their decision to no longer support local and 100 per cent Australian-owned," the Norco spokesperson said.
Rural Commodities Index rises for third consecutive month: NAB
Increases in the price of wheat and lamb helped lift the NAB Rural Commodities Index* for the third consecutive month, rising by 0.4 per cent in June. NAB’s July Rural Commodities Wrap … reports while the wheat price rally slowed in June, prices continued to rise, increasing 3.5 per cent on average over the month.
Norco Co-operative drives industry innovation with first-to-market ice cream technology and new Cape Byron sticks range
For Norco, Australia’s oldest and largest dairy co-operative, its great tasting ice cream has always been crafted for indulgence, but the latest innovation from the 100 per cent farmer owned co-operative is set to take its premium portfolio to the next level ... Housed at its iconic ice cream factory in Lismore, Norco Co-operative is the first company in Australia to invest in a new machine which produces up to two centimetre inclusions in ice cream: taking ice cream decadence to the next level.
Strong growth in dairy, forestry, hobby farmland prices: ABARES
ABARES has expanded the Farmland Price Indicator to include a new series of experimental estimates by farmland type. Users can now access and download specific information for beef, dairy, cropping, forestry, orchard and even hobby farmland type via the ABARES Farmland Price Indicator dashboard.
Timber’s role in the rise of Australian butter: Robert Onfray
Robert Onfray. While researching for my three-part series on the truth behind the rainforest wars in New South Wales, there was a constant theme in the historical account of utilising one species of rainforest timber. While the cutting of hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) was undoubtedly very extensive in New South Wales, the scale of utilisation in Queensland was even more significant, and one of its primary uses was for butter boxes.
BCCM says Fonterra sale another blow for Australian dairy farmers
Melina Morrison. "The announcement by Fonterra that it intends to sell its Australian dairy processing assets is yet another blow to dairy farmers and a reminder about the precarious nature of our food security when staples like milk are passed around like commodities. This move, if it results in greater concentration of ownership of Australian dairy assets, will impact not only farmers but also consumers at the supermarket checkout."
Global dairy price recovery set to be slower than expected, but outlook remains positive – Rabobank
The global dairy market may experience a slower price recovery than previously anticipated, particularly as China shows a reduced need for dairy imports, Rabobank says in recently-released sector research. But, despite this, the overall market outlook remains positive, the global specialist agribusiness bank says in its Q2 Global Dairy Quarterly, titled Searching for Equilibrium.
The war made dairy retail cultureless
In one city, the cost of milk is double! Buyers are outraged. And sellers set the prices they want. Yet the law prohibits making a trade markup on milk of more than 10 per cent. All this happens not only because of violation of the law. Another reason is the lack of a food consumption culture.
Norco resumes international exports
Australian dairy products from Southern Queensland and northern New South Wales are on their way to Japan, marking the first international shipment from Norco’s Lismore dairy operations since before the Northern Rivers floods in 2022.
Top breeding, top honour
Seeing your name in gold print on an honour roll is something special, but something not many of us achieve. For Greg and Kris Goulding from Johville Park Aussie Reds at Leitchville, it’s their outstanding genetics that have helped them reach that status. The Gouldings were inducted to the Genetics Australia Breeder Honour Roll...
Rural Commodities Index continues its steady climb north: NAB
Rising prices for a range of rural commodities including cattle, cotton and dairy have seen the NAB Rural Commodities Index* increase for the fourth month in a row. NAB’s March Rural Commodities Wrap ... reports the Index increased 2.2 per cent month-on-month in February and is back up around levels last seen in April 2023.
Dairy Co-op takes stock of farmer mental health with grassroots support
Norco, Australia’s largest and oldest dairy co-operative has announced the expansion of its ‘Farmer Army’ with new mental health recruit and dairy farmer veteran, Craig Waddell ... Michael Hampson, Norco Chief Executive Officer said the newly created position of Mental Health Support Officer will provide support exclusively to their farmer members who may need to talk to someone during challenging times or simply want to have a chat with another farmer.
Farmers call for increased dairy code transparency: VFF
The Victorian Farmers Federation United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (VFF UDV) is stepping up calls for increased transparency as the ACCC’s Dairy Code of Conduct review continues ... “The Dairy Industry Code review has had an overwhelmingly positive impact for Victorian dairy farmers, but strengthening the Code ... will assist farmers in ensuring long term profitability”: VFF UDV President Bernie Free.
Australian milk production firing on all cylinders: Rabobank report
More than halfway into the current dairy season, Australian milk production is firing on all cylinders, Rabobank says, with widespread growth in milk supply across all dairying regions due to favourable seasonal conditions and good farmgate margins. In its recently-released Q1 Global Dairy Quarterly report … Australian milk production reached 5.35 billion litres from the period July 2023 to January 2024…
Communities crying over removed milk
Norco have posted a statement on their Facebook page revealing the 100 per cent Australian farmer owned dairy co-operative has been overwhelmed by the passionate outcry from loyal customers after Woolworths recently announced their decision to remove the brand's milk products from 150 stores across metropolitan Sydney ... Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan has also expressed his disappointment in Woolworths following the announcement last week and said if the multinational retail and finance company wasn’t going to support Norco, he wasn’t going to support them.
Camels on the Darling Downs?
The success of the Scenic Rim’s Summer Land Camels at the Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Show might be encouragement for some farmers on the Downs to start thinking about adding a few camels to their livestock herd. The Champions of the 2024 Sydney Royal Cheese and Dairy Show have been just announced with Queensland’s Summer Land Camels taking home Gold for the Camel Milk, Silver for the Camel Milk Persian Feta, and Bronze for Camel Milk Powder.
Rural commodity price rises buoy index for third consecutive month: NAB
The NAB Rural Commodities Index* increased for the third month in a row in January, underpinned by rising cattle prices which are now around 60 per cent higher than their October lows. NAB’s February Rural Commodities Wrap ... reports cattle, lamb and dairy prices have all recorded gains, fuelling the Index’s rise to levels last seen in May 2023.
