Processors hold September milk prices

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association dairy chairman Noel Murphy told the Irish Examiner that it has been a “very difficult” year for farmers overall, with fears of them operating “below the cost of production”.

Processors’ announcements of held milk prices are being welcomed by farmers after a year of severe cuts.

Lakeland Dairies was the first to confirm its price for September milk, which remains unchanged from August, at 34c/litre.

In Northern Ireland, a base price of 27.25p/litre will be paid for milk supplied in September. Again, the base price has been held for September supplies.

Kerry Group has also confirmed it has held its milk price for September supplies.

The price being paid out is 35c/litre, at 3.3% protein and 3.6% butterfat consisting of a base price of 32c/litre and a milk contract payment of 3c/litre on qualifying volumes.

Dairygold has maintained its September quoted milk price at 33.5c/litre, based on standard constituents of 3.3% protein and 3.6% butterfat, inclusive of sustainability, quality bonuses and Vat.

Carbery has made no change to its base milk price for September. 

Carbery is continuing to support milk price from its stability fund and is allocating 3c/litre support for September milk. 

If this decision is replicated across the four West Cork co-ops of Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird, this will result in an average price for September of 35.98c/litre, inclusive of Vat and 0.5c/litre somatic cell count bonus.

Irish Farmers’ Association national dairy committee chairman Stephen Arthur reemphasised the need for processors to hold milk price.

“This is against a backdrop of early, but promising signals in the marketplace of a rebound in commodity prices,” he said.

“Farmers need every cent they get this backend given the difficult weather we have had and the stubbornly high input prices we have to pay.”

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association dairy chairman Noel Murphy told the Irish Examiner that it has been a “very difficult” year for farmers overall, with fears of them operating “below the cost of production”.