Analysis of the prices paid to 1m litre producers indicate that returns on each litre of milk continued to fall in May.
As shown in Table B, there is little change at the top of the monthly league table, with Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown remaining in pole position across all three qualities of milk. The base constituents for each quality are outlined in Table 1 on the opposite page.
Although processors left base price unchanged, the actual prices paid per litre are down on the previous month, due to lower milk solids output during peak production.
For good quality milk, the average price paid across all processors was 25.26p/l for May, down from 25.37p/l in April.
Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown tops the league for the second successive month on 25.68p/l. Aurivo holds on to third place on 25.4p/l, just 0.01p/l ahead of Lakeland in fourth.
Dale Farm climbs one place to finish joint fifth alongside Glanbia Cheese on 24.98p/l.
Average quality
On average quality milk, prices averaged 23.93p/l across all processors, down from 24.3p/l in April. At the outlined milk quality, protein levels are at base levels for all companies, except Dale Farm.
It means base price, volume bonuses and transport charges effectively decide the league positions.
Positions one to four are the same as for good quality milk, with Glanbia Milk on top.
Glanbia Cheese is in fifth, as its revised mozzarella bonus applies at the outlined qualities for average milk. That leaves Strathroy and Dale Farm at the foot of the table.
12-month average
Over the 12-month period ending May 2020, Lakeland Dairies paid the highest price to a 1m litre supplier of good quality milk, as outlined in Table C.
Lakeland’s position at the top is mainly due to a 1p/l supper hygiene bonus paid on milk produced below 10 TBC and 100 SCC.
Aurivo is in second place, followed by Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown in joint third.
Average quality
Moving to average quality milk, Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown tops the 12-month rolling table for the second month, with an average price of 26.28p/l.
With it hygiene bonus not applicable on average quality milk, Lakeland remains in third place with Aurivo in fourth. Glanbia Cheese and Dale Farm are now tied in fifth place, leaving Strathroy at the bottom.