European dairy farmers raise the alarm amid an acute and dramatic crisis – markets are flooded, prices are collapsing. Milk prices have been falling for months, pushing farms into severe existential difficulties and making it clear that a voluntary volume reduction must be activated immediately at EU level by the European Commission, before more farms are forced to shut down.

Across Europe, farms are confronted with alarmingly low price levels. In Ireland, the milk price stood at 54 cents per litre in August 2025, but has since dropped sharply to 36-40 cents, with a downward trend towards 33 cents. In Belgium, prices have fallen by 16 cents within one year, reaching just 40 cents per litre now, and further reductions have already been announced. Many other European countries are reporting similarly severe price declines. In Denmark, for example, the current price drop amounts to 16 cents per litre compared to August of the previous year. At these levels, production costs are not covered, leading to substantial financial losses for farms across Europe.

A predictable collapse – no constructive EU response

Key indicators such as the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) price index and the futures markets for milk powder and butter clearly predicted this development. From mid to late last year, the GDT declined steadily, with two drops of more than 4% in December alone. Likewise, skimmed milk powder futures on the EEX exchange were already trading at significantly lower levels at the end of the year than in August 2025. The collapse in producer prices was therefore entirely foreseeable. An instrument such as the voluntary supply reduction should have been activated months ago.

Demand: Activate the voluntary supply reduction now

The appeal from Europe’s dairy farmers to the European Commission is therefore urgent: activate the voluntary supply reduction scheme immediately to halt the downward spiral! Dairy farmers are ready to reduce production through an EU-wide coordinated programme to bring the market back into balance. Without a swift political response, Europe risks another massive structural breakdown in dairy production, with severe consequences for regional food security and rural livelihoods.

The 2016 crisis must not be repeated

In 2016, the EU only reacted once prices had already collapsed. Today, we are once again seeing rising volumes and falling prices – this time against a backdrop of significantly higher production costs. If action is not taken now, a new dairy crisis will unfold with full predictability. This must not be allowed to happen!

EMB press release of 9 February 2026

Tensions due to agricultural and trade policies are being felt throughout the European Union. This text from our French members provides a very tangible overview of the reality on the ground and how these massive challenges are perceived by producers.

Published on 1 February on Facebook

The dairy market in Switzerland has reached a new low. Milk is being processed into butter by the truckload and skimmed milk has to be disposed off in biogas facilities because of insufficient capacity for milk powder production. There is only one option left: the milk volume must go down. But how?

Major mobilisation and strong concerns have come forth from the dairy sector in recent months. MIG would like to recap the current key challenges and the actions undertaken to defend the interests of dairy farmers.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public call to submit data on the use of 3-nitrooxypropanol in ruminants. EFSA has been mandated to prepare a scientific opinion on the safety of the feed additive for the target species under Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003.