Australian milk production has plummetted 10.3 per cent this year on the back of low milk prices and tough seasonal conditions.
The latest report from Dairy Australia shows milk production to the end of October was 10.3 per cent lower than the same period last year.
October production was down 11.4 per cent.
Australia’s biggest milk-producing state Victoria led the decline with production down 13.4 per cent for October and 11.9 per cent year to date.
Tasmania (down 13 per cent for October and 11.3 per cent year to date) and South Australia (down 11.5 per cent for October and 14 per cent year to date) followed the trend.
But Queensland bucked the national trend with production up 3.8 per cent for October and 2.6 per cent year to date.
All other states had declining production with NSW down 3.8 per cent for October and 6.5 per cent year to date and Western Australia down 3.8 per cent for October and 1.0 per cent year to date.
Northern Victoria is the hardest hit region in Australia with production down 20.2 per cent for October and 18.0 per cent to date with dairy farms there hit by extremely wet conditions and flooding in September and October.
Easter Victoria production is down 9.3 per cent for October and 7.9 per cent year to date, while Western Victorian production is down 11.3 per cent for October and 10.2 per cent year to date.
Source: Adf.farmonline.com.au