Co-ops offer weather supports for suppliers
Some co-ops have issued their suppliers weather supports. Picture: Chani Anderson
Due to the ongoing dry weather, co-ops have put in place weather support for their members and suppliers.
Dairygold have announced that they will offer a €20 per tonne rebate on bulk mainline dairy and beef feeds.
To qualify for the rebate, the feeds must be delivered over three weeks from August 17 to September 7 inclusive. In addition, a cost-effective ‘Fodder Stretcher Feed’ is available to all customers.
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Commenting on the board’s decision, Dairygold chairperson Pat Clancy said: “Our board is acutely aware of the significant challenges the drought conditions are causing for members, through both additional feed costs and ongoing daily herd management. We are offering a €20 per tonne Feed Rebate to support members facing ongoing grass growth challenges, to maintain milk production on farm and plan for the months ahead.
"Our advisory and technical teams continue to be available to assess individual farm requirements, provide feed advice and to assist in fodder budgeting for the winter ahead.”
Tirlán are also offering members a support package worth €15m for its milk suppliers due to the continued dry weather, such as weather-related milk payments worth €10m covering June, July and August milk supplies and a €5m drought support package available from July 10 to September 19, 2026.
Tirlán have also increased credit facilities for agri-customers to accommodate higher on-farm expenditure and is providing extensive technical and advisory support for milk suppliers.
Tirlán chairperson Ger O'Brien said the board recognised the exceptional challenges facing farm families and had acted to provide meaningful support.
"The board agreed that we need to support our suppliers, as far as possible, in coping with the extremely challenging conditions being experienced across our catchment area. We would encourage all milk suppliers to engage with our technical teams to help manage their herds over the coming weeks, maintain milk production and secure adequate fodder supplies for the winter."
To help preserve silage stocks and reduce pressure on winter fodder reserves, Tirlán is encouraging its suppliers to maximise the use of concentrate feeds.
As part of this effort, the qualifying period for the current Drought Support Package has been extended until September 19, 2026.
The package provides a €40 per tonne rebate on GAIN dairy feed, a €10 per tonne rebate on Irish rolled cereals, and a €3 per tonne rebate on straights.
The Tirlán farmer-facing team continue to provide technical support and advice to farmers. A series of technical webinars will be hosted over the coming months to provide detailed nutritional advice. In addition, the co-op is planning a series of branch clinics for diet formulation and to create individual fodder budgets.
Kinisla have announced its own drought support measure to assist milk suppliers managing the impact of prolonged dry weather.
The co-op has increased the discount available on selected dairy feeds to €50 per tonne from August 14 until September 5.
