NZ milk production gains in November despite dry weather

NZ milk production picked up in November, despite dry weather. Photo / File

Drier-than-normal weather has so far failed to dent milk production, with latest data for November showing a 4.2 per cent rise compared with the same month last year.

In terms of milk solids, production was up 3.4 per cent over the month, according to latest data from the Dairy Companies Association of NZ (DCANZ).

Season-to-date milk production was up 1.8 per cent (up 1.8 per cent - milksolids).

Milk production for the 12 months to November was up 1.3 per cent (up 1.9 per cent - milksolids), DCANZ, which covers all the main dairy companies, said.

ASB rural economist Nathan Penny said production was surprisingly strong over November.

"To a degree it is a bit of a surprise and it built on a pretty good October,"he said. "The rain stopped in October and it's been dry since then, and those dry conditions have continued into December."

The data precedes tomorrow morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction - which will be the last for 2017.

AgriHQ expects prices to be mixed. A lift in whole milk powder prices is expected while skim milk powder prices are expected to fall, it said.

The offer volumes for both skim milk powder and anhydrous milk fat are considerably higher than was originally planned to made available at the auction.

However, the offerings of both commodities are only slightly greater than the volume traded at the last event, AgriHQ said.