For the first time since June 2017, Strathroy Dairies has finished top of the NI milk league with an alternate day collection price of 27.05p/l for April.All buyers of NI milk left their base prices unchanged for April, as milk production moves towards peak production in May.
For the first time since June 2017, Strathroy Dairies has finished top of the NI milk league with an alternate day collection price of 27.05p/l for April.
All buyers of NI milk left their base prices unchanged for April, as milk production moves towards peak production in May.
That left Strathroy 0.2p/l to 0.75p/l ahead on base price when compared with other competing processors.
The April milk league is based on a dairy farmer producing 650,000l annually, with a supply profile that reflects the NI average.
Milk quality is set at 4.04% butterfat, 3.24% protein, 4.73% lactose, with 18 TBC and 185 SCC. All milk quality figures are based on official DAERA statistics for the same month in the previous year.
Glanbia bonus
Finishing second in the league is Glanbia Cheese, rising two places from a mid-table position in March. The Magheralin-based company held its base on 25.25p/l, and finished on a milk price of 26.71p/l, just 0.34p/l behind Strathroy.
Boosting the Glanbia Cheese price are bonus payments on milk quality, most notably the company’s decision to double its mozzarella bonus from 0.2p/l to 0.4p/l.
The bonus is paid on all milk above 3.2% protein and 4% butterfat. TBC must be less than 25, with SCC below 200. This bonus is applicable from April onwards and has been factored into the April league.
Collection charges
Slipping two places to third for April is Dale Farm, on an alternate day price of 26.64p/l.
Milk collection charges again impact on Dale Farm’s league position.
On April milk, Dale Farm’s alternate day collection charge was 0.44p/l, which is greater than the differential between first and third place.
Elsewhere, Lakeland finished mid-table on 26.59p/l, with Aurivo, Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown rounding out the table.
Rolling average
While Dale Farm finished third in the April league, the co-op retains its position at the top of the 12-month rolling average league table, with an alternate day price of 28.58p/l. Next is Lakeland Dairies on a price of 28.34p/l. Glanbia Cheese is in third place on 28.16p/l. However, when moving to daily collection, the Magheralin-based processor has overtaken Dale Farm, and is now paying the highest price over the past 12 months.
Again, milk collection charges are a significant factor in the final league placings, with Glanbia Cheese the only processor not to charge for daily collections.
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