Murray MP Warns milk prices that ignore the floods and drought will send farmers broke

Milk prices set for 2025-26 fail to take into account increased production costs caused by the recent floods and drought, according to Independent Member for Murray, Helen Dalton.  

“NSW processors are going to send farming families broke, unless that take into account the extra costs farmers face which have been caused by the flooding and the drought,” Helen said. 

Milk processors have announced that they will only pay farmers between $9/kg and $12.30/kg for milk solids. 

“That price will destroy farming families,” Helen said.  

“Production costs have blown out because of the floods and drought, but milk processors are acting like the weather has been just dandy.” 

“We’ve got farming families that are barely scraping through with disaster relief payments,” Helen said. “At the same time, the cost of everything from feed to transport has gone up.” 

“This combination of circumstances is the worst possible outcome,” Helen said. 

Australian shoppers may be forced to give up Aussie-made dairy products unless the prices paid to farmers in reviewed. 

“Australians go to the supermarket and expect to be able to buy Australian made dairy products,” Helen said. “But the way things are going, we won’t have any Aussie farmers left, and we will be forced to get our milk and cheese from overseas.” 

Ms Dalton has called on processors to admit that their current offer to famers is far too low.  

“We just need a fair price to be paid so that farming families don’t go broke,” Helen said.