Dairy prices have risen at the first global auction for the year

Commodity prices lifted by 2.8 percent, partly offsetting a sharp fall at the last auction, which saw a decline of 5.1 percent.

Among the key products on sale, whole milk powder prices rose by 1.7 percent.

Rural Economist Nathan Penny says it's a good start to the year for farmers.

He says skim milk powder also lifted by more than five percent bringing them almost in line with whole milk prices which hasn't happened for some years.