By LIAM DANN
Milk production is on target to reach record levels this season.
Fonterra reports that total national milk production remained 4.5 per cent up on last year despite the wet spring causing serious problems in Northland.
Fonterra shareholders relations manager Rodd Hodgson said the recent wet weather had taken
the edge off the "boomer season".
But production on the peak day of the season - due some time in the next few weeks - was still likely to exceed last year's record of 67.6 million litres.
Most dairying regions were in good shape and had shrugged off the rain to maintain record production, he said.
Parts of the South Island were 10 per cent ahead of last year. Parts of the lower North Island were about 5 per cent ahead.
Two months of wet weather in Northland had left many paddocks in a swampy mess with little or no grass for cows.
Milk production in Northland was down 800,000 litres a day - 15 per cent - on last season. Even more serious was the impact the constant rain was having on spring calving, Hodgson said.
