Report 7 – Released on February 13, 2020

AUSTRALIA:

Australia is moving toward the end of the milk production season in June. Late season milk volumes are relatively low in the overall seasonal context. Thus, it is quite statistically unlikely that any Hail Mary event will measurably alter the current seasonal trend.

Government officials have warned people in New South Waled to prepare for dangerous flooding as torrential rain continues over the weekend. Of course, this will be helpful in continuing to extinguish lingering fires. It has been an awful last few months for many people in Australia.

Milk production in Australia is moving toward the seasonal low a few months ahead. Dairy impacts of the raging fires remain to be quantified. Producers had already been reducing herd numbers due to tight feed. The fire aftermath left may dead cows and destroyed crops,both planted and in storage. The effects will negatively ricochet in coming months, and longer.

NEW ZEALAND:

Most of New Zealand is extremely dry at the moment, especially the North Island. Dairy officials expect that will adversely impact milk supplies for February, and probably for March as well. South land and the West Coast have had the other extreme recently, with some flooding from heavy rain. A reasonable amount of milk is produced in these regions. New Zealanders expect the dry conditions on the North Island to have a larger impact on milk production than the wet conditions on the South Island.

Heavy rains have left swollen rivers still rising in some areas. Some reports are that more than 100 dairy farms in New Zealand are being severely impacted by the extensive flooding.Many farms are either under water or cut off, with access roads flooded. Some areas are now also without power. Access to some of the farms is cut off. As a result, many farmers will need to dispose of the uncollected milk.

     Information for the period February 3 - 14, 2020, 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: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
     DMN MARS (My Market News): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov