As we head for the last few days of April most of the milk processors are estimating that milk supplies for the month will be up between 12% to 15% compared to the same period in 2016.

A combination of better milk price, more cows and better weather this year compared with April 2016 mean the country is set to produce an additional 112m litres of milk in the month compared to 2016.

This is the first time since quotas were abolished that the combination of good weather and good milk price is driving milk supplies.

It means April milk supply will come in near 860m litres for the month. The extra milk delivered by dairy farmers will realise an extra €33m in milk payments to farmers, or on average an additional €2,000 per dairy farm.

Aurivo and Lakeland are both up 12%, all the west Cork co-ops are up between 14% and 15%, Dairygold estimates deliveries will be up 13.5%, while Kerry estimates April will be up 12%. LacPatrick reports an increase of 7%.

Glanbia April milk volumes to date are running approximately 15% ahead of April 2016.

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