It is an impressive statistic highlighting what is expected to be a bumper peak to the milk production cycle, which has the potential to reach more than 90 million litres collected in a single day – enough to fill 36 Olympic swimming pools.
Peak refers to the period when New Zealand’s annual milk production reaches its highest level due to ideal conditions for grass growth.
Fonterra Managing Director of Global Operations, Robert Spurway says the Co-operative is well placed to manage the peak this year.
“During peak, our aim is to collect and process all milk, with a product mix that maximises the value of our milk, delivers the greatest returns for our shareholders and meets the needs of our consumers and customers worldwide.
“To help us achieve this, the Co-operative has invested in more than 50 capital and enhancement projects around the country aimed at optimising collection, processing, transport and manufacturing.”
Among these investments is a new milk concentration plant in Longburn to maximise volumes of milk transfer from the North Island to the South Island, a recently completed UHT plant at Waitoa, and a new drier at Pahiatua currently under construction – each a significant upgrade in terms of managing peak volumes and optimising Fonterra’s existing plants.
Fonterra has also announced its plans to build a drier at Lichfield in South Waikato, along with three new plants to be installed at its Edendale site in Southland, a $555m investment to improve capacity.
Due to New Zealand’s pastoral farming system, investment in infrastructure and capacity is a careful balancing act, says Mr Spurway.
“It’s important to remember that the milk peak is predominately driven by the weather conditions, which can vary widely from year to year, so we need to be prudent in our management,” he says.
“Last season, more than 41 per cent of Fonterra’s total milk production was collected during the peak period. We balance the need to collect and process as much milk as possible, while avoiding plants standing idle at other times of the year.”
