News Milk
Irish milk lake grew against the tide in 2021
Milk production in Ireland reached its seasonal dip in January. Milk supply in the winter months was at a comparable level to previous years. For the whole of 2021, milk production was significantly increased compared to one year previously.
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While milk production was under pressure in many countries last year, Irish dairy farmers managed to maintain the increasing trend in milk production. For almost the entire year, the milk supply was several percent above the spring level. Total milk production in 2021 amounted to 9.015.960 tons of milk. That was about 435.000 tons more than in 2020, an increase of more than 5%.
Seasonal low
The seasonal low point in production has now been reached in January of the new year. The milk supply in the first month of the new year was just under 180.000 tons, about 15.000 tons lower than in January 2021. From February, the milk supply will increase rapidly again.
Milk prices are also rising sharply in Ireland. Over the month of February, major processors such as Glanbia (+1,5 cents per litre), Dairygold (+1,5 cents), Lakeland (+2 cents) and Kerry Group (+2 cents) increased their prices considerably. The net payment prices paid to suppliers, including surcharges, now also fluctuate in Ireland between €45 and €50 per 100 kilos of milk (3,4% protein, 4,2% fat).