Report 23 – Released on June 6, 2019

AUSTRALIA:

Seasonal milk production in Australia, July 2018 through April 2019, is 7.3 percent lower than last year. April 2019 is 13.7 percent lower than April 2018. This table displays Dairy Australia data July through April.

AUSTRALIA MILK PRODUCTION, MILKFAT and PROTEIN

                            July 2018-April 2019     April 2019

                            Million Percent Change       Percentage
     State                  Liters  From 1 Year Ago  Milkfat    Protein

     New South Wales         852.4      -10.4           4.07      3.31
     Victoria              4,687.3       -8.7           4.60      3.50
     Queensland              304.6      -10.3           4.10      3.36
     South Australia         424.4        0.0           4.11      3.34
     Western Australia       316.7       -2.6           4.17      3.26
     Tasmania                799.6       +1.6           4.88      3.73
     Australia (Total)     7,385.0       -7.3           4.49*     3.47**

     *  +2.1 percent from prior year period
     ** 0.0¬ percent from prior year period

     Data from Dairy Australia
Autumn is advancing throughout Australia. Cooler weather and frost have moved into some areas. This is encouraging accelerated activity among some dairy producers to secure hay and feed to last through the winter. Supplies still available are tight. This is resulting in higher cost and use of alternative feed. Available hay supplies are especially tight in Southern and Western Australia.

NEW ZEALAND:

April 2019 New Zealand milk production reported by DCANZ was 1.364 million MT, down 8.4 percent from April 2018 milk production, 1.489 million MT. April 2019 milk solids, 136.728 million kg, are down 7.7 percent from April 2018, 148.177 million kg.

Especially with late season lower milk production, every drop counts. Continued dryness across the North Island and parts of the South Island are of continuing concern among dairy producers.

Better returns for many New Zealand dairy producers during the current season are believed to have led to increased spending on deferred repairs and capital expenditures on many dairy farms. Analysts view this as a positive factor moving forward into the next season. Information for the period May 27 – June 7, 2019, issued biweekly

Published by:
     Dairy Market News - Madison, WI
     Eric Graf, 608.422.8590
     Email: Eric.Graf@usda.gov

     Additional Dairy Market News Information:
     Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602
     DMN Website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
     DMN Database Portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home