With the milk price announcement deadline only a few days away, calls for prices 20% above last season’s average are growing among dairy farm lobby organisations.

The Weekly Times reports farm lobby leaders are calling for fair opening prices for the 2026-27 season, which must be announced by 2 pm on Monday 1 June. Australian Dairy Farmers President Ben Bennett said farmers were calling for a big boost to cover soaring costs as water, fuel and fertiliser prices have all increased significantly. United Dairyfarmers of Victoria President Bernie Free said consumer price increases were needed and should be distributed along the supply chain with “a reasonable percentage of that going to dairy farmers.