Bandon Co-op leads the way in milk prices

THE downturn in the dairy industry last year hit hardest in the co-ops paying lower milk prices, according to the Irish Farmers Journal/KPMG Milk Price Audit.

As a result, the milk price gap between the worst and best paid farmers in the audit has widened from 3.31 to 3.69 cent per litre.

The top audited milk payer in 2002 was Bandon Co-op, averaging 28.44 cent per litre (101.82p per gallon) after collection charges and levies. The worst paying audited co-op was Connacht Gold at 24.75 cent per litre (88.61p per gallon).