Dairy sector production has held strong in the face of difficult climate conditions throughout the 2022/23 season.
The recently released annual New Zealand Dairy Statistics report by DairyNZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) reveals a resilient and innovative dairy sector that has performed well despite facing climatic challenges, inflationary pressures, and global supply chain issues.
In the 2022/23 season, the dairy sector demonstrated stability in milk production, processing 20.7 billion liters of milk containing 1.87 billion kilograms of milk-solids. While there was a slight decrease of 0.4% in liters produced, there was a corresponding increase of 0.3% in kilograms of milksolids. The season saw an increase in milk production per cow; however, the trend of declining cow numbers persisted, with a 3.46% decrease to 4.67 million cows.
Campbell Parker, CEO of DairyNZ, acknowledged the efforts of farmers in managing various challenges and highlighted their focus on technology and information to enhance efficiency and decision-making. The use of insights and tools to improve herd sustainability and productivity has contributed to the sector's adaptability.
The report indicates an increase in the percentage of cows herd tested, reaching 81.1% of total cows tested, with artificial breeding remaining relatively stable at 82% of cows.
David Chin, CEO of LIC, emphasised the sector's achievements in producing more milk-solids from a smaller cow population. Farmers' investments in genetic improvement and herd testing have resulted in the breeding of highly efficient cows with lower emissions intensity profiles.
Despite a challenging season, the average dairy co-operative payout (including dividends) for the 2022/23 season was $9.26, the second-highest inflation-adjusted payout for farmers on record. New Zealand dairy farmers, accustomed to managing volatility, are resilient in the face of a drop in the expected milk price for the 2023/24 season.
The dairy sector continues to play a significant role in contributing to GDP, supporting local communities, and providing around 55,000 jobs nationwide. Dairy export revenue is expected to increase to $25.1 billion for the 2022/23 season, reflecting the sector's dedication and economic impact on New Zealand.
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