Co-ops have been setting milk prices for milk supplied in February. With the exception of the Carbery Group of west Cork co-ops, all others have kept the January milk price unchanged for February.

Carbery increased by 1.5c/litre to 30.75c/l and it is now up to the four co-ops, Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird, to see if they will pass on the Carbery increase to their members.

On Monday, Lakeland and Glanbia both announced that the February price would remain unchanged. Based on 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat, Glanbia is paying 29.3c/l, while Lakeland is paying 29.7c/l.

Kerry is paying 29.4c/l, while Dairygold is unchanged from January at 29.9c/l. This includes a 0.5c/l quality bonus.

The Irish Farmers Journal reports milk price excluding VAT.

Holding their nerve

IFA’s dairy committee chair Seán O’Leary has said with the exception of the Carbery Group, co-ops have not passed adequate returns to farmers for February milk.

“Lakeland, Glanbia and Dairygold’s decision to hold their price at January level was disappointing, but I am urging all co-ops to stay on track to deliver 33c/l before peak.

“I believe co-ops need to hold their nerve,” he said.

ICMSA dairy chair Gerald Quain said processors should be paying a February milk price of at least 32c/l, saying it would be “fully justified and based comfortably on market returns”.

“The Ornua Purchasing Price Index returns for February 2017 remained fixed at 105.4, or 31.4c/l, but this is based on a processing cost of 6.5c/l which we’ve always felt is overly generous to the processors.”

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