July 2020 milk collection continued the upward trend on monthly supply.

Good grass growth and favourable weather is helping maintain yields. Our survey results show milk supply to the end of July was up between 5% and 6% for the big milk processors compared to the same month in 2020.

The CSO reported July 2019 figures at 942 billion litres, a 10% lift on the 2018 figure. Our tally results this week suggest the July 2020 monthly supply will have gone up another 40m to 50m litres (5% to 6%), meaning total July supply could be very close to the one billion litre mark.

Glanbia

Glanbia estimates suggest July milk supply is up by about 6%. Dairygold estimates supply is up by 2.5%, with Lakeland Dairies estimating it is up 6%.

Arrabawn estimates July supply is up almost 7% and is running 5% ahead year to date. Aurivo is up 5.5% for July.

The west Cork co-ops are up by between 3% and 6%. Kerry Group supply bounced up 2% in July.

Milk price

The mood music on milk prices is still relatively good despite the ongoing ups and downs on supply affected by COVID-19 across the world.

This week the GDT auction result was down 5%, which will some what balance out the positive lift four weeks previously where it shifted up over 8%. Average price remained just over $3,045/t.

In the past, August has been up and down as the holiday period kicks in for a lot of buyers.

New Zealand milk production is just kicking off about now, with calving started in the North Island, and over the coming weeks more and more cows will start to calve the further into the South Island you go.

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