Australian dairy prices 2024-25: Craig Emmett says strong farmgate figures needed

Fourth generation dairy farmer Craig Emmett is hopeful for a farmgate price above $9, ahead of the deadline for processors’ base milk prices.

Craig Emmett, Erin Hopkins and their daughter Orphella Emmett and kelpie pup Sasha on farm at Stanhope. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Just scraping by on the cost of the production doesn’t cut the mustard for the modern dairy farmer, Craig Emmett says.

The Stanhope primary producer is one of more than 4000 dairy farmers nationwide with an eye on the June 1 deadline for base milk prices, as mandated by the sector’s code of conduct.

In previous cycles, a bidding war has erupted between dairy processors in a bid to lock down supply before the new season but conditions have been muted this year.

The only indicative figure has been released by Saputo, which gave its suppliers a ballpark range of between $7.80-$8.00 per kilo milk solids.

Other major dairy players such as Fonterra and Bega have declined to follow Saputo’s lead and even Saputo says it’s not the figure they’ll necessarily stick with on June 1.

Mr Emmett said competition for supply was likely to push the speculated figure higher.

“It would be great if it opened in the nines (per kilo milk solids) but we’ll wait and see,” the 38-year-old said.

“I know there has been some speculation about it being high sevens/low eights, but with the demand for milk between processors and the shortage of supply, I reckon it’ll be a bit higher than that. It’s going to be an interesting month.”

Originally working as an agronomist, Mr Emmett is a fourth generation dairy farmer, working in partnership with his parents, Lynette and Gordon.

“Farmers aren’t willing to go back to taking a low price and just cracking by. Farmers have had enough of that lifestyle and fair enough,” he said.

“It’s long hours and hard work, so farmers have a right to be paid properly, just like any other person in the workforce.”

Mr Emmett is a member of Dairy Farmers Victoria, formed by leading agricultural figures including former United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Mark Billing last year.

He encouraged other dairy farmers to join, adding there was strength in numbers.

“It’s so important to advocate to government, to big business, the needs of dairy farmers. That’s why I joined,” Mr Emmett said.

“We’re a shrinking industry and advocacy has been poorly funded up until now. It’s about making our voices heard.”