Top November milk prices not far off 40c per litre

IFA National Dairy Chairman Sean O’Leary said Tuesday’s weighted average index fall of 3.9% in the first GDT auction of 2017 does not reduce the scope for further milk price increases in Irish co-ops for December milk.

He said GDT prices rose 0.5% for butter, and 2.3% for slim milk powder, which would translate to an Irish milk price equivalent of just over 36c/l before VAT.

Mr O’Leary said the latest available EU market prices for butter and skim just before Christmas would return an Irish milk price equivalent to just over 32c/l, before VAT.