Figure to December 2018 (published 24 January 2019)
Updated 21 February 2019
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/historical-statistics-notices-on-uk-milk-prices-and-composition-of-milk-2018/figure-to-december-2018-published-24-january-2019
1.1Key messages
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This release shows the latest information on average farm-gate milk prices, volumes and the butterfat and protein content of UK produced milk.
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The UK average farm-gate milk price for December 2018 is 30.69 pence per litre (ppl). This represents a 2.9% (0.91 ppl) decrease on November 2018 and a 2.9% decrease on the same month last year. (Figure 1.2).
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Butterfat is down 0.9% on last month at 4.16%. Compared to last year butterfat is 1.0% lower than December 2017. (Figures 1.3a).
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December volumes increased following seasonal trends to 1,234 million litres, a rise of 5.1% on the previous month. Milk volumes are up 0.9% on December 2017. (Figure 1.4).
1.2 United Kingdom farm-gate milk price (pence per litre)
1.3 Average butterfat and protein content of United Kingdom produced milk
1.3a. Butterfat %
1.3b. Protein %
1.4 United Kingdom wholesale milk production (million litres)
1.5 Percentage change in key items: December 2018 compared to December 2017
1.6 Trends
Figures 1.2 to 1.4 above show the values for the latest 12 months along with the maximum and minimum monthly values. Trends can be seen, notably the spring flush in milk production and the drop in butterfat as the dairy herd diet changes when they are put out to grass in the summer. There is a strong positive correlation between milk composition (butterfat and protein content) and milk price.
1.7 Retrospective payments
Some companies make retrospective bonus payments. We do not reflect these payments in the monthly milk price figures. The annual average price for farm-gate milk in 2017, including retrospective payments, is 28.86 ppl, 0.16 ppl more than the annual average price without retrospective payments (28.70 ppl). In 2017 total retrospective payments were 2.5% lower than 2016 at £24.2 million.
A retrospective payment is when a company makes a payment to a farmer that is outside the normal contract price they receive and is generally paid on prior production, for example profit sharing.
1.8 Revisions and estimates
England and Wales survey response in November was 97%. Northern Ireland data for December 2018 is an estimate.
The next update of this monthly notice is at 09:30 on 21st February 2019.
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