Seasonal boost brings milk industry hopes

The dairy sector in Tasmania is experiencing good production due to a lucrative autumn. See the full figures here.

Tasmanian milk production is on track this season to boost the nation’s milk pool, thanks to favourable seasonal conditions across southern Australia.

And producers feel comfortable and confident heading into winter with abundant feed to see them through the cold months.

A recent Tasmanian government insight report showed milk production for the state was up year to date, with the value of dairy exports lifting 64 per cent compared to 2013-14, from about $410 million to just shy of $500 million today.

But Australian milk production in recent years has softened, according to the report, from just shy of 9 million litres in 2020-21, to about 8.5 million litres in 2021-22.

According to the report, a wet spring in northern Tasmania and in the state’s east resulted in an abundance of feed throughout the summer.

Dairy farmer Geoff Cox with his herd at Ringarooma. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association dairy council president Geoff Cox said Tasmanian dairy farmers were in the midst of an “exceptional autumn”.

“Feed cover seems to be pretty good all around, and the farmers I’ve spoken to seem pretty happy with the current situation, as far as the season is looking,” Mr Cox said.

“The summer was about average, it was a hard season, and the spring was below average.”

The forecast for an opening milk price between $8.50-$9/kgMS is a “workable” price, Mr Cox said.

“But I’d hope it wouldn’t be below $8.50”, Mr Cox said.

“With the global markets, we’re still buoyed by the domestic market somewhat. Some of our costs are coming back down, like fertiliser and feed costs.

“What would really help is if we got a reasonable season next spring and a normal sort of summer.”