Lakeland Dairies warns superlevy fines of 28.66c per litre inevitable

Lakeland Dairies has told its suppliers that superlevy fines of 28.66c per litre over quota are now inevitable, following an 18.5% increase in January milk output versus this time last year.

The Cavan-based processor is currently 3.7% over quota, which is approximately 15m litres over the collective quota allocation of its membership, with six weeks of production still to go until the March 31 deadline. With the supply for February to date also up on last year’s equivalent, Lakeland has told its members that fines will be unavoidable.

“It is important that all over-quota suppliers do all they can to reduce the massive superlevy exposure and reduce the fines that will have to be paid to the EU,” said Lakeland’s latest Farm Notes newsletter.