Norco Co-operative, Australia’s oldest and largest dairy co-operative has today announced a record farmgate milk price increase for its farmers, which will see a $2.3M injection go toward helping its farmer members continue to deliver Australia’s best-tasting milk. 

The increase will see Norco’s 281 active members receive an additional 1.1 cents per litre taking the average price to 88 cents per litre ($0.88) - reflecting the highest farmgate milk price (on average) Norco dairy farmers have ever received. 

The move comes amidst a challenging economic and operating environment for the dairy industry which has seen some key players reduce their farmgate milk price, to the financial detriment of Australia’s hardworking farmers. Norco bucking this trend should provide confidence to farmers that Norco, a 100% farmer-owned co-operative, is restoring confidence in the industry in NSW and QLD.

However, for Norco, the increase represents a continuation of the co-operative’s ongoing commitment to support its farmer members and aims to recognise the sheer hard work and dedication that goes into putting high-quality milk on supermarket shelves. 

Norco Chief Executive Michael Hampson comments how pleased the co-operative is to be able to deliver this news to its farmer members.

“Within our means, Norco is constantly looking at how we can add value to our farmer members. And as Australia’s last operating dairy co-operative, we also feel we have a responsibility to think longer term about how our actions can better support the Australian dairy industry as a whole,” he says.

“And leading on milk price is just one of the ways we can help to safeguard the future of the dairy industry, for all dairy farmers in our region and across Australia,” he adds.

Norco dairy farmer, Andrew Wilson, who farms just outside of Lismore welcomes the increase.

“Whilst other processors are looking to reduce milk prices in the industry, it is great to see that our co-operative is continuing to support us with an overall increase for the co-operative members to help us cover the rising costs we are seeing on farm,” he says.

This positive news for Norco farmers comes off the back of a landmark study by the co-operative which found that depression and anxiety was rife among Australia’s hard-working farmers, across all farming sectors. 

Even more devastating, the National Farmer Wellbeing Report1 which was conducted in partnership with the National Farmers’ Federation, found that close to half of Australian farmers (45%) have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide, while close to a third (30%) have attempted self-harm or suicide.

Michael Hampson comments that while the data from the report was incredibly confronting, what really stood out to him was the fact that more than three quarters (76%) of Australian farmers don’t believe what they do is valued by the Australian public, something that very likely has contributed to the mental health struggles many farmers are experiencing.

“Our farmers really are the backbone of this country and work 365 days a year to deliver food and essential goods to consumers.

“So as a country – and a co-operative - we’ve got a job to do in better supporting our farmers and ensuring they feel valued for what they do. And that starts with ensuring they get a fair days pay for a fair days work,” he says. 

Hampson adds that his ultimate goal is to see farmgate milk price at $1 per litre; efforts that would help farmers invest in their farming operations to create a more sustainable future, provide value and incentive to attract new people into the industry, and to provide confidence that there is a more prosperous future for the Australian dairy industry.

“However, we do also need to consider the current economic climate and the impact on consumers, so it is important that we balance efforts to continue to add value to our farmers, with consumer affordability – but we will continue to work hard to find the right balance,” he says.

“With that said, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our loyal Norco customers who continue to buy our products, and assure them that every time they do, every cent goes back to supporting our farmer members - ensuring they feel valued for the work that they do and helping to safeguard the future of the Australian dairy industry,” Hampson concludes.