The latest In Focus publication from Dairy Australia shows interesting but not surprising trends across the dairy industry.

The report reveals Australian farmgate milk prices remained high, averaging $9.35kgMS in 2024/25. The price eased from the two prior seasons, which included a record high in 2022/23 of $9.85kgMS on average. Farmgate prices vary across Australian dairy regions. Meanwhile, milk production declined 1% YOY in 2024/25 to 8.315bn litres milk with less favourable weather conditions, higher beef prices and improved heifer export prices. At the same time, the number of farms declined to 3,772 with a national herd of 1.3m cows.

Annual dairy production totalled 430,068t for cheese and 198,440t of milk powders (86% SMP), while 72,021t of butter and AMF was manufactured in 2024/25.