An Irish Farmers Journal survey of the main Irish milk processors this week shows significant increases in milk supply for the month of November compared with November 2014. The percentage increase ranges from a high of 76% in Dairygold down to a 22% monthly increase for Aurivo and LacPatrick.

However, a large proportion of dairy farmers had dried off in November last year for quota reasons so percentages can be misleading. The increase follows a similar trend that has held firm all year since quotas were removed at the end of March.

Typically November monthly milk supply is about 4% of the annual manufacturing milk supplied in a year. Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show for the last three years the volume of milk supplied for the month of November ranged from 230 to 280 million litres. Additionally, we know 2015 milk supply is up 15 to 20% with improved milk solids.

Our survey shows that on average the percentage supply increase for the month of November is close to 50%. Therefore, we can estimate an additional 150m litres of milk was processed in November this year compared with the same month last year.