January 2026 milk prices announced
Tirlán, Dairygold and Lakeland Dairies have all announced their January milk prices.
January base milk prices for Tirlán, Dairygold and Lakeland Dairies are being held for suppliers, with Lakeland announcing input support payments and an early calving bonus.
In January, the Tirlán Board confirmed its intention to hold the milk price for January and February supplies, subject to any unforeseen events. In effect, this confirms a milk price of 41.08 cpl for February, inclusive of a seasonality bonus payment of 5cpl.
Tirlán will pay a total of 43.08 cpl, including Vat for January creamery milk supplies at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein.
The January milk price consists of a base milk price of 35.58cpl, including Vat which remains unchanged from December, a seasonality payment of 7.0cpl, including Vat and a Sustainability Action Payment of 0.5cpl, including Vat to all qualifying suppliers.
The seasonality payment applies to all creamery milk volumes supplied during January that meet quality criteria. This payment also applies to non-contracted volumes from our Autumn calving and Liquid Milk Scheme members.
The actual average price paid by Tirlán for January creamery milk, based on delivered constituents, will be 52.36 cpl, including Vat.
On January 20, the Tirlán Board confirmed its intention to hold the milk price for January and February supplies, subject to any unforeseen events. In effect, this confirms a milk price of 41.08 cpl for February, inclusive of a seasonality bonus payment of 5cpl.
Tirlán chairperson John Murphy said: “We are pleased to be in a position to confirm our January milk price as announced last month. Farmers welcomed the certainty provided by a price commitment across the three-month period of December to February.”
Tirlán have also confirmed that an unconditional seasonality bonus payment of 5cpl will be paid for any February milk volumes that do not qualify for Liquid Premium or the Autumn Calving Scheme.
The Board of Tirlán has agreed that the same rates of seasonality bonus payments will apply in December 2026 (5 cpl), January 2027 (7 cpl) and February 2027 (5 cpl).
This month’s milk payment is based on the reduced Vat Flat Rate Addition, which applies to payments made after January 1 of this year. The government reduced the Vat Flat Rate addition for non-Vat farmers to 4.5%.
Based on Tirlán’s Vat-inclusive milk price of 36.08cpl, the base milk price for January and February milk should be reduced by 0.21cpl to adjust for the reduction in the VAT rebate from the Government. The board has decided to absorb this cost in the short term, but confirmed that it will be reflected in milk pricing from the March milk onwards.
The Dairygold Board has maintained the January Quoted Milk Price at 36.0cpl, based on standard constituents of 3.3% Protein and 3.6% Butterfat, inclusive of Sustainability and Quality payments and Vat.
Dairygold’s Early Calving Payment for January is 7.3cpl, including VAT, which will be paid on milk supplied in the month at standard constituents and in accordance with Milk Quality Criteria. This increases the attainable Dairygold Milk Price to 43.3cpl at standard constituents.
Based on average milk solids achieved by Dairygold Milk suppliers equates to an average farm gate milk price of 53.3cpl for January.
Commenting on the board’s decision, Dairygold Chairperson, Pat Clancy, said: “Dairy market fundamentals remain largely unchanged. Global milk supply continues to be strong, with no signs of supply scarcity.
There has been some upward movement in commodity prices observed in recent weeks, with a limited return of buyers to the market to secure supplies following a very quiet Q4 2025. Overall sentiment remains cautious in light of the sustained high levels of global milk supply.”
In 2026, the milk solids supplied will now be taken into consideration when completing payment for the Balanced Scorecard, Early Calving and Grassroots payments.
Lakeland Dairies have announced to help and support farmers through the current market challenges, the co-operative will pay a 2cpl input support. In addition, farmers will receive the normal 1cpl early calving bonus.
The base price of 33.25cpl at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein will be paid for the January milk price, which is inclusive of the 0.5cpl Sustainability Incentive payment.
This will bring the minimum base price for milk to 36.25cpl. The co-operative will also pay 5cpl on all qualifying litres for the out-of-season bonus.
A spokesperson for Lakeland Dairies said: “Following a period of significant weakness, global dairy markets have shown some tentative signs of stabilisation. That said, conditions remain unpredictable.”
