Lactalis has announced a 2023/24 opening price for the fresh milk market in Queensland and northern NSW of 82c/l , down from the current season’s opening price of 87c/l. Lactalis said the opening price was a starting position with an expectation the price will lift in the coming weeks due to competition for milk supply.

Reacting to Lactalis’ opening price, farmer lobby group eastAUSdairy’s chief executive Eric Danzi said dairy farmers were caught off guard by the announcement, which he said turned to anger and confusion, calling it “a poorly thought-out strategy designed to suppress milk price.”