Report 11 – Released on March 12, 2020

AUSTRALIA:

July 2019 – January 2020 milk production in Australia decreased 3.7 percent from the corresponding previous period, according to Dairy Australia. January 2020 milk production,731.2 million litres, was 0.5 percent higher than January 2019. More detailed production data are in the table which follows.

 AUSTRALIA MILK PRODUCTION, MILKFAT and PROTEIN

                            July 2019 - January 2020 January 2020

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

     New South Wales          637.4  -6.7            3.98    3.22
     Victoria               3,688.5  -2.8            4.28    3.40
     Queensland               194.1 -14.2            3.93    3.25
     South Australia          278.7  -9.9            3.91    3.25
     Western Australia        219.4  -4.1            3.93    3.19
     Tasmania                 592.4  +1.7            4.28    3.50
     Australia (Total)      5,610.6  -3.7            4.20*   3.37**

     *  +1.4 percent from prior year period
     ** +3.9 percent from prior year period

     Data from Dairy Australia

NEW ZEALAND

January 2020 New Zealand milk production reported by DCANZ was 2,454 million MT, down 0.7 percent from January 2019 milk production, 2,471 million MT. January 2020 milk solids,211,377 million kg, are up 1.1 percent from January 2019, 209,036 million kg. This season to date, June 2019 – January 2020, milk production decreased 0.5 percent from the corresponding year earlier period according to Eucolait. Milk solids increased 0.5 percent.Drought continues to be a problem for dairy producers. There was some rain last week, but not enough. Experts believe multiple rain events over many days will be required to end the drought. The Agriculture Minister of New Zealand has now expanded drought classifications to more regions. This will lead to government assistance in affected areas. Meanwhile, milk production is being adversely affected.