Recipe for change as dry spell may eat into food prices

Meat prices might fall in coming months if producers offload stock in anticipation of a dry period. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

Foods prices could be volatile in the coming months as Australia is hit by hotter and drier weather patterns.

The Bureau of Meteorology on Tuesday formally declared an El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean, to Australia's east, and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, to the west, which are expected to bring drier and hotter weather.