Australian milk production has fallen 0.7 per cent this season compared with the last season, according to the latest statistics from Dairy Australia.
February milk production fell 1.5 per cent, with production to the end of February down 0.7 per cent.
Dry conditions in eastern states, coupled with lower milk prices, have taken their toll on milk producers there.
But the overall figures disguised marked differences around Australia with massive growth in Western Australia, and modest growth in Tasmania and NSW.
Victorian production showed the biggest decline, down 3.3 per cent for February and 1.8 per cent year to date, and as that state produces almost two-thirds of the nation’s milk, it had a big impact.
WA production for February was up 13 per cent and year-to-date production was up 6.5 per cent.
Tasmania was up 2.4 per cent for February (1.0 per cent year to date) and NSW was up 0.5 per for February (2.2 per cent year to date).
South Australia was down 2.0 per cent for February but still ahead year to date (up 1.0 per cent).
Queensland production continues to free fall – down 1.3 per cent in February and 2.4 per cent year to date.
In Victoria, Western Victoria took a big hit with production down 9.0 per cent February (0.4 per cent year to date).
Gippsland and Northern Victoria showed similar trends down 0.5 per cent and 0.6 per cent respectively for February and 2.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively year-to-date.
In NSW, the southern area production grew 3.2 per cent in February to offset lower production in the inland/central (down 3.1 per cent) and North Coast (down 1.7 per cent) areas.
Year to date all regions of NSW have grown (inland/central up 0.3 per cent, North Coast up 3.0 per cent and southern up 2.5 per cent).
Source – Australian Dairy Farmer