Inside Milk
Italian dairy farmer milks remarkably stable
Italian dairy farmers showed a remarkably stable milk production in April this year. The milk supply in that month is almost the same as in April last year. But still well below the 5-year average for April.
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This emerges from data that Italy has submitted to the European Commission. The Italian milk supply in April was almost unchanged compared to last year at 1.059.760 tons of milk. Based on the 5-year average, milk production is 2,4% lower in April. Last year, at the height of the first corona wave, which hit Italy hard, Italian dairy farming supplied much less milk in the peak months of March, April and May. The milk supply has therefore not recovered from this decline in the same months of this year.
Last year, Italian dairy farmers were called on by the Italian government to reduce milk production. This was done because the corona crisis has caused the demand for dairy to collapse. Dairy farmers have responded by reducing the reduction. This effect appears to be continuing into 2021. Milk production has now reached its peak and is on its way back to a seasonal dip in the late summer months.