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Milk collection across the EU increased by 1.2% in April 2018 compared to April 2017. This equates to an extra 167,000t on this time last year.
Germany, Italy and Poland showed the biggest increase in tonnes collected, up 94,000t, 64,000t and 36,000t respectively. The biggest percentage increases came in the smaller nations of Bulgaria (16%), Cyprus (14%) and Romania (10%).
By contrast, as reported last month by the Irish Farmers Journal, Irish collections were drastically down on April last year. As weather conditions and fodder shortages took their toll collections declined by 6%, equivalent to 52,000t.
It is in sharp contrast to the April 2017 to April 2016 comparison when Ireland topped milk collection increases, up 109t (14%). This underpins the volatility experienced in Ireland’s grass-based production system.
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