<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milk producers have asked Australian supermarkets to lift the price of homebrand milk to help dairy companies struggling with double </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/aussies-may-have-to-ration-fuel-expert-says/8d8909f2-ac8d-4045-8181-4fb0b93cbcd2" rel="" target="" title="fuel"><span>fuel</span></a><span> and fertiliser hikes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The dairy sector is urging </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/supermarkets" rel="" target="_blank" title="Coles and Woolworths"><span>Coles and Woolworths</span></a><span> to increase the shelf cost of generic milk by at least 30 cents per litre as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-war-iran-urea-fertiliser-price-increase-australians-could-pay-more-for-groceries/16a4d95d-4778-4164-897d-45bedc6644b5" rel="" target="_blank" title="dual shortage tightens its grip on farmers."><span>dual shortage tightens its grip on farmers.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>eastAUSmilk president Tim Bale said he was waiting for a response after approaching the grocery giants about the price change, which would allow Australian milk producers to do the same and remain competitive.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/free-fuel-melbourne-traffic-chaos-as-cars-line-up-for-offer/5c5625ee-2d9a-4e1f-a8cd-810e828f1f3a" rel="" target="_blank" title="Police called, traffic chaos after $100k free fuel stunt shut down"><strong><span>Police called, traffic chaos after $100k free fuel stunt shut down</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-have-prices-decreases-since-fuel-excise-reduction/967683f0-0c56-42fd-9d48-5309245588c4" target="_blank" title="Petrol and diesel prices take a dive as fuel excise cut kicks in"><strong><span>Petrol and diesel prices take a dive as fuel excise cut kicks in</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need the generic milk to rise so other brands can rise, ensuring some goes to the farmers," Bale told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Farmers need [a lift] of 10 to 15 per cent."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/price-of-milk-producers-and-farmers-ask-supermarkets-to-raise-prices-as-fuel-crisis-hits-industry/b9ce36de-5549-4eab-b643-10a6d0ae7afa" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A two-litre bottle of Woolworths full cream milk currently costs $3.20.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Coles-branded full cream milk is the same price, equating to $1.60 per litre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nine.com.au has contacted Coles and Woolworths for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Milk processers have called for the same change to cushion the blow of high diesel prices and fertiliser shortages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Middle East, known for being one of the world's most dominant suppliers of oil, also supplies up to 45 per cent of the world's urea.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-sister-speaks-out-after-fugitive-killed-by-police/feeddbc0-6d8f-42ff-b368-1aaed025ad90"><strong><span>'Havoc and evil': Dezi Freeman's sister speaks out</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span></span></em><span>Urea is the most commonly used nitrogen fertiliser that promotes high crop yields and is used for wheat and vegetables. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The cost of urea has gone from $800 to $1800 in the past month. Price increases of this level have never happened before," Bale said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Fuel and fertiliser are two major input costs for dairy farmers and cost increases of this magnitude cannot be absorbed by dairy farmers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Farmers will cut back production or exit the industry over the coming months if something isn't done immediately."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/brisbane-woman-attacked-by-e-scooter-riders-on-run/31f8b009-eb47-4ade-9c6d-532c9fdabfde" target="_blank" title="Woman spat on, verbally abused by e-scooter riders in brazen attack"><strong><span>Woman spat on, verbally abused by e-scooter riders in brazen attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australian milk suppliers are also facing an increase in the cost of milk bottles and lids due to a domestic resin shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nick's Food, Milk and More general manager Nick Viropoulos received a letter from his milk supplier on Wednesday, advising him the cost of bottles and lids is set to double.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This would probably translate to, in the early stages, somewhere between eight and 10 cents a litre," </span><a href="https://www.2gb.com/costs-to-double-supply-chain-issue-to-cause-spike-in-milk-prices/" rel="" target="_blank" title="Viropoulos told 2GB's Ben Fordham yesterday."><span>Viropoulos told 2GB's Ben Fordham yesterday.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Equivalent to 20 cents a bottle will be the initial impact, so heaven knows where it's going to end up."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said it was an Australian shortage, rather than a global shortage, as Australia relies on China for its resin production.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our only source of resin for blowing milk bottles and associated plastic bottles for drinks and beverages comes from China," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Now that there's a shortage of petroleum going all over the world, they're keeping the resin for their domestic market and they can't send any to Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Unfortunately the producers in Australia are forced to air freight it out of the USA at US dollar rates."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>