Farmers urge for 'strong' milk prices as they await decisions on January supplies

"Most farmers need a base price in excess of 40c/litre to sustain their businesses going forward."

While European markets are relatively stable, the latest GDT provided positive sentiment to the global dairy market lifting by 4.2%. 

Boards sitting down next week "must raise the base price" for January supplies as current dairy market returns "fully justify" an increase, according to the Irish Farmers' Association.

IFA national dairy chairman Stephen Arthur stressed that input costs "remain stubbornly high", and with "weaker than anticipated" milk supply in the backend, farmers starting back into milk this spring "need a strong milk price".