Australian 2021-22 dairy season: Saputo and Bega quiet at farmgate

Three processors have listed their farmgate figures more than a fortnight out from the June deadline. Will Saputo and Bega follow suit?

Burra, Fonterra and Bulla have announced 2021-22 season opening prices. PICTURE: ZOE PHILLIPS

Saputo and Bega are keeping their 2021-22 opening prices under the radar with three processors now listing early farmgate figures.

The latest is Burra Foods, which last week also stepped up as the current season approaches the finish line.

Management at Burra confirmed a 10-cent step up for 2020-21, boosting its pricing range from $6.20-$6.60 a kilogram of milk solids to $6.30-$6.70 a kilogram of milk solids.

In a letter to suppliers, Burra Foods chief executive Stewart Carson also confirmed an

opening price range of $6.40 – $6.80 per kg milk solids for the 2021-22 season.

It follows on from moves by both Bulla and Fonterra to outline 2021-22 financial year prices, with the latter offering average weighted figure of $6.55 per kg milk solids.

All processors have to declare their base starting figures by 2pm on June 1 as part of the mandatory dairy code of conduct.

“Strong demand and our ability to respond to customer needs has allowed Burra to take advantage of historically high market prices and pass this through to our milk supply partners,” Mr Carson said.

Management at both Saputo and Bega were contacted by The Weekly Times but did not respond in time for deadline.

Bulla was the first processor to publicly confirm pricing, six weeks ahead of the June 1 deadline.

The Colac-based processor indicated a pricing range of $6.40/kg-$6.90/kg milk solids in April, indicating the strength of the 2020-21 season is set to carry over into the forthcoming financial year.

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