Inside Milk
Irish milk supply starts strong in spring
Milk production in Ireland has got off to a strong start in the seasonal increase that starts annually in February. The amount of milk collected was higher than last year and also well above the 5-year average.
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Irish dairy farmers have managed to significantly increase their total milk supply in February. Total milk production skyrockets to 356.490 tons. With an increase of 5,7%, this is a significant increase compared to the production of February 2020. The milk supply is also well above the 5-year average of 318.040 tons.
More cows and higher prices
The large production will, among other things, have to do with: the growing dairy herd in the country. This was about 2020% larger at the end of 3,7 than a year earlier. Furthermore, the relatively good prospects on the international dairy market and the rising Irish dairy quotations may be an incentive for Irish dairy farmers to milk more liters. Irish dairy farmers paid between €0,347 and €0,3623 per liter of milk (3,4% protein and 4,2% fat) in February.
The strong growth of the milk pool comes at a time when the Irish milk processor Glanbia announced that it has wants to limit the milk peak of its member dairy farmers next year. This is because the completion of a new cheese factory has been delayed. By limiting the milk peak next year, Glanbia wants to prevent the threat of a milk surplus.