Milk production now 10 days behind

By FWi staff

MILK production fell even further below profile last month, according to latest provisional figures released by the Intervention Board.

Last month producers delivered 1.143 billion butterfat adjusted litres, nearly 43m litres, or 3.6%, below profile.

That takes the cumulative total to 11.362bn litres, 370m litres below profile, equivalent to almost 10 days supply.

“It is now almost certain that profile will not be met by the end of the milk year,” says Peter Weston Davies of the Farm Consultancy Group.

“However, looking at next season, there is a lot of interest for leased quota, with producers seeing the 3ppl as a good investment.

“Obviously there are some who are wary of making too early a start at too high a price, and they are waiting to see how this season finishes and the next one starts.

“But with the current milk price, and signs of further rises in the spring, many are more than happy to make a start.”