TÜSEDAD Demands Urgent Update on Raw Milk Price

October 29, 2026 · Tarım Pusulası

TÜSEDAD has requested an urgent revision of the raw milk reference price in November due to rising costs, warning that the breeding stock is at risk, as the price has remained unchanged since May 1.

Urgent Demand for Raw Milk Price Update

The Board of Directors of the All Cattle Breeders Association (TÜSEDAD) has called on the National Milk Council (USK) to urgently update the raw milk reference price in November. In a statement made by the association, the reference price, which has been in effect since May 1, was criticized for remaining unchanged for a long period. The agreement reached at the Milk Workshop, organized jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and USK, to review prices every three months was recalled. It was noted that the lack of official action despite rising input costs has created distrust and increased dissatisfaction among producers.

Cost Pressure and Feed Sales

TÜSEDAD pointed out that while raw milk producer prices are being suppressed, the prices of drinking milk, cheese, and yogurt on supermarket shelves continue to rise. The association, which quantified the economic bottleneck faced by producers, reported a 15% to 20% decline in feed sales compared to the same period last year. The statement emphasized that breeders are only able to feed their animals at a level sufficient for survival, not for high yields. It was stated that keeping producer prices under control does not prevent inflation at the retail level; on the contrary, it forces farmers to downsize their operations and cease production.

Small Family Businesses at Risk

The fragile structure of small family businesses, which account for approximately 82% of the milk produced across Turkey, was extensively covered in the statement. It was stated that these small businesses, with their limited capital, are more helpless than large farms in the face of the burden of feed, electricity, and financing costs. TÜSEDAD reported that purchase prices remaining below costs deliver the heaviest blow to this segment of producers. A warning was issued that the emptying of barns by small businesses will lead to an irreparable collapse in the rural population, regional employment, and the overall livestock infrastructure.

Supply Security and Future Threat

It was indicated that producers' decisions to reduce their herds will directly deplete the breeding animal stock and plunge the country's meat supply into crisis. The TÜSEDAD Board of Directors stated that the cost balance for producers must be urgently ensured to maintain milk and meat supply security. Addressing the USK and sector stakeholders, the association requested that the potential update in November should consider not only past costs but also projections for the upcoming period. It was reminded that the price decisions to be made are vital for the country's production capacity and rural welfare, rather than for the market's daily situation.

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