The latest figures from Dairy Australia reveal national milk production fell 4.1 per cent in December compared with the same time last year.
Year-to-date production is down 8.5 per cent compared with the first six months of the previous season.
Big drops occurred in most states with the exception of Queensland, where production increased 2.0 per cent, and Western Australia and Tasmania, were production was slightly lower (down 1.0 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively).
South Australian production was down 6.3 per cent, Victorian down 4.5 per cent, and NSW down 6.1 per cent.
The picture in Victoria was mixed with northern Victoria down a massive 18 per cent, while Gippsland was up 1.1 per cent and Western Victoria was up 3.6 per cent.
The year-to-date figures showed a more dramatic drop.
SA was down 11.3 per cent, Victoria down 9.9 per cent, Tasmania down 8.0 per cent, NSW down 6.3 per cent, and WA down 0.7 per cent.
Queensland production was up 2.3 per cent for the six months.
But dairy exports grew in both volume (up 5.5 per cent) and value (up 4.3 per cent) in November.
Whey products, butter oil, whole milk powder, other dairy products, mixtures and milk reported increases in volumes exported for November 2016, increasing 81.0 per cent, 53.9 per cent, 46.6 per cent, 28.0 per cent, 16.1 per cent and 10.0 per cent respectively, comparative to November 2015.
Source: FarmOnline
Link: http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/magazine/industry-news/general/milk-production-continues-to-plummet/2754588.aspx
