Norco has announced a farm-gate price increase linked to milk quality and on-farm reporting as part of a strategy to strengthen resilience and sustainability
Norco, as Australia’s oldest farmer-owned dairy Co-operative, has confirmed a farm-gate milk price increase for season 2025-26, lifting the forecast full-year average price across all regions to 90.37cents per litre (cpl) – up1.27cpl on last season’s final average.
While Norco members have enjoyed unprecedented price stability over the last few years, this increase is very welcomed news in the face of increasingly frequent weather events and rising input costs and has been tied directly to two measures:
- 1cpl Co-operative Premium – payable from January 2026 to members who complete Norco’s pioneering annual farm data survey, which underpins emissions reporting and on farm data capture aimed to help improve farm productivity long-term.
- 0.5cpl Quality Bonus – payable from September 2025 for milk that meets specific quality thresholds, rewarding the effort farmers put into producing quality milk, and ensuring customers continue to enjoy the freshest, best-tasting dairy delivered by Norco.
Norco is the first known dairy processor in Queensland and New South Wales to offer a direct financial incentive to farmers for collecting farm emissions data, recognising the time and effort required and the vital role it plays in building a more sustainable dairy supply chain.
A more sustainable and resilient future
While retaining farmers in the dairy industry continues to be a broad industry challenge, Norco is also investing in a wider set of initiatives to support farmer resilience and the long-term sustainability of the dairy industry in Northern NSW and Queensland.
These include:
- Farm Data Survey & Reports – Now in its third year, the program has already delivered the largest dataset of dairy farm emissions ever compiled across the eastern seaboard and subtropical region of Australia. Norco farmers will now receive tailored insights to assess performance and help improve farm productivity and efficiency.
- Cow Purchase Program – Originally launched after the 2022 Lismore floods, the initiative provides financial support to members to help grow or rebuild herd size and boost milk production. It continues to support recovery and profitability following the Mid North Coast floods, while also helping Members achieve long term business goals.
- Succession Planning Program – Designed to address industry decline and support generational transition, this future-focused program provides financial and business support to help younger farmers take over family operations. The practical support preserves productivity and retains valuable agricultural land for dairy, while empowering younger generations to carry forward family businesses.
Norco Chief Executive Michael Hampson highlighted several important achievements, “Norco is committed to shaping a more sustainable future for Australian dairy. We are a proudly 100% farmer-owned co-operative, and as we celebrate our 130th year, it’s more important than ever to invest in resilience-building initiatives that help grow dairy farmer businesses and secure long-term success for our members and the industry more broadly.
“This price increase directly rewards milk quality and participation in our farm data survey, a critical step in measuring emissions and unlocking productivity insights for farmers. It’s a tangible way we’re linking sustainability with value creation.
“Beyond pricing, we continue to invest in programs that support herd growth, succession planning, and on-farm innovation, ensuring our members can thrive today while laying the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable Northern dairy sector tomorrow,” Michael Hampson concluded.
Track record and future focus
The Norco Dairyfoods operation has already achieved Dairy Australia’s target of a 30% reduction in carbon intensity by 2030, six years ahead of schedule, driven by a combined focus on emissions benchmarking and energy-efficiency upgrades.
Combined with recognition as Canstar Blue’s 2025 Most Satisfied Customers for Fresh Full Cream Milk, Norco is demonstrating how quality and sustainability can go hand in hand, meeting consumer expectations while delivering strong commercial outcomes for its farmer Members.
