Milk Production Surges

The latest production figures from the RPA show UK milk deliveries continue to outpace year-earlier levels.  Production for October was 1,090.6 million litres compared to 994.4 million litres for the same month in 2012; a 9.7% increase.  In fact, this is the highest production in the month of October since the 2003/04 milk year and is over 5% more than the average for the last five years.  Furthermore there appears to be no let up; UK daily deliveries for the two weeks ending 9^th November averaged 35.2 million litres per day, some 3.2 million litres per day (9.9%) more than at the same period in 2012.  Perhaps not that surprising when we remember the appalling weather experienced all through the summer and into the autumn last year.  Hwever, looking at the three year average for the same period, current daily deliveries are running at 4.7% (1.4 million litres per day) more.

Cumulative production for the UK now stands at 7,935.6 million litres, some 123.2 million litres above production at the same point last year and 1.6% higher than the average for the last five years.  The surge in milk output is due to a combination of factors.  More favourable weather, better forage quality and better milk prices combined with lower feed costs, meaning it is currently worth feeding cows to get marginal litres.

The UK isn’t alone in its sharp increase in milk production.  A number of EU Member States have also seen increases in year-on-year production since June.  Of the top producers, latest Eurostat figures show the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Poland and France have all seen significant increases along with the UK.  Only Italy and Spain are continuing to struggle, which is probably more due to wider economic pressures.