For the third successive year, west Cork co-op Barryroe claimed top spot in the Irish Farmers Journal/KPMG Milk Price Review, with a price of 37.46c/litre for 2014. The average price paid by all processors in 2014 was 36.31c/litre.

The west Cork domination of the Milk Price Review was disrupted by the inclusion of Dairygold in No 2 spot and Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) in fourth.

Dairygold has been a top-five player in the Milk Price Review for the last five years, but GII has been outside the top five for the last five years, so coming fourth in 2014 will please the mainly eastern-based GII suppliers.

The GII position is more encouraging given that it reflects the milk-only part of the business.

Some industry sources suggest a wider portfolio of business investments contributes to allowing west Cork co-ops pay a higher milk price.

At the bottom of the Milk Price Review is Town of Monaghan. Second from the bottom is Lakeland, which is trying to attract suppliers on the basis of no minimum share-up requirement in the co-op.

Third from bottom is north Tipperary-based Arrabawn. No doubt suppliers who have switched to Arrabawn this year, post quota removal, will question their actions. However, expect Arrabawn to shift up in the 2015 Review based on milk prices paid to date in 2015.

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