Positive summer market signals continue for dairy commodities. Dairy farmers received a welcome May milk price increase but most market experts say given global market prices and signals there should be another 0.14c/kg MS (1c/l) price lift coming for June.

The May league order remained relatively unchanged as all processors have lifted May price by 0.14c/kg MS (1c/l). This is interesting in itself given the various product mix differences among the processors.

With butter prices continuing to make record prices of $5,500/t and skim milk powder making over $2,150/t, farmers continue to look for their share of the upturn.

The west Cork Co-ops are out on top for May and this price excludes the milk quality bonus (0.5c/l) that is available for top-quality milk (milk under 200,000 SCC) which over 70% of west Cork suppliers will be able to get.

The two smaller north Cork-based co-ops are next in the league followed by the other larger Cork-based processor Dairygold. After the Cork co-ops, Arrabawn and the Tipperary Co-op come next in line, effectively payng 0.14c/kg milk solids (1c/l) less than the west Cork brigade.

The third division holds the bulk of the milk in the country, with this batch of processors paying between €4.22 and €4.27/kg milk solids (effectively 30 c/l in round figures ex VAT).

On average, the price paid for May is €4.30/kg milk solids or approximately 30.8c/l ex-VAT at 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat.