PRICES have risen in the latest global dairy auction.

The average price rose by 2.2 per cent to $US3124 ($F6392.09) a tonne.

That follows a fall to $US2969 ($F6081.51) at the previous fortnightly auction, the lowest average in more than a year.

The whole-milk powder price is up by 4.2 per cent to $US2886 ($ 5908.89) a tonne — still below the level needed for farmers to break even.

The price of butter is still hovering around $US4500 ($F9213.45) a tonne, well back from the record high of more than $US6000 ($F12,279.90) in September.