生乳生産、４年連続増　消費低迷で廃棄リスクも―２２年度

　全国の酪農団体などでつくるＪミルク（東京）は２８日、２０２２年度の全国生乳生産量が前年度比０．８％増の７７１万トンになるとの見通しを発表した。増産は４年連続。新型コロナウイルス感染拡大で消費が低迷すれば、年末年始に高まった大量廃棄リスクが再燃しかねず、関係者からは先行きを懸念する声が上がっている。（2022/01/28-22:29）

Raw milk production in Japan in fiscal 2022, which starts in April, is seen totaling 7.71 million tons, up 0.8 pct year on year and rising for the fourth straight year, an industry organization said Friday.
   But industry people are concerned that a large amount of milk could be discarded if consumption slumps due to the impact of the novel coronavirus crisis. Such concerns grew between late last year and early this year.
   During the year-end and New Year holiday period, the industry was able to avoid massive disposal of raw milk because producers and retailers campaigned to boost milk consumption and more raw milk was used to produce butter and powdered low-fat milk, which have a longer shelf life.
   Raw milk production in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, a major dairy goods production area, is expected to increase 2.0 pct to 4.39 million tons in fiscal 2022 although the growth would be slower than 3.7 pct estimated for fiscal 2021, according to the Japan Dairy Association, also known as J-milk.
   The industry is concerned that a large quantity of raw milk could remain unused if the number of novel coronavirus cases stays high and consumption slumps as a result. In addition, milk consumption is expected to fall during the spring break around the turn of the fiscal year and the Golden Week holidays between late April and early May, when school lunches are not offered.