Milkfat production wast second highest year

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 18

Milkfat production wast second highest year

PA V Wellington Dairy i production in the season just ended was 282.2 million kg of milkfat, the second highest recorded. The total, is 200,000 kg more than last year, hut less than the record 290.9 million kg record in the 1979-80 season.

The result was unexpected because the summer drought led to production falls in January and February. But exceptionally high autumn production — the total in May was 41 per cent higher than May last year - brought the seasonal total back. up. The industry has now had three consecutive years of record production arid record overseas prices. Total export earnings last year were $1316 million, compared with $1022 million.the year before. . In the season ending on May 31, most regions actually hadaa slight fall in production over last year. But Waikato, the largest dairying area, and the South Island each had an increase of 2.5 per cent. Waikato’s production in May was 140 per cent higher than in May the year before, according to the Dairy Board.. ?Y:, Northland < showed the heaviest fall in. production

over the season. It was hit hard by the drought and production never fully recovered, said' the board. A Aboard spokesman, Mr

Quentin Golder, said pr<Bpects for the new season were fairly good. Favourable weather in May had left good feed-conditions. • I