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After a number of months when base milk prices were generally on hold, there have been some positive moves upwards from the first milk processors to declare prices for milk supplied in Northern Ireland in May.
With rising global demand driving butter prices to record levels in the EU, and improving outlooks for milk powders, farmer representatives have been calling on processors to pass on the higher returns coming from the marketplace.
First to declare its May price this week was Lakeland Dairies, which increased its base from 25p/l to 25.5p/l on Tuesday.
Also declaring its milk price on Tuesday were Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown. They also added 0.5p/l to their base price, taking it from 24.9/l to 25.4p/l. With their 0.6p/l year-round bonus added in, their suppliers are on a price of 26p/l for May before factoring in adjustments for milk quality.
After holding its base price steady so far in 2017, Glanbia Cheese matched the 0.5p/l increase available elsewhere, taking its base to 25.75p/l.
Listen to the views of Glanbia's director of strategy and supply development Sean Molloy in our podcast below:
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