The first four milk processors in NI to set a price for September have all indicated that farmgate prices are up.
Lakeland Dairies was first out of the blocks and set the trend for higher prices on Tuesday, raising its base price by 1p/l to 26.25p/l.
Omagh-based Strathroy Dairies followed that lead, announcing it would also raise its base by 1p/l to 26p/l on Wednesday. Glanbia Cheese then followed suit, adding 1p/l, taking its base to 26p/l.
Dale Farm put 0.75p/l on to its base price, leaving suppliers on the same base of 26p/l, but when the co-op’s 0.3p/l loyalty bonus is added in, it means suppliers effectively are on an all-in price of 26.3p/l for milk supplied last month.
When comparing to the same month in 2019, current farmgate base prices across the main milk processors in NI are up 1.5p/l to 2p/l.
Still to declare
That leaves just Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown and Aurivo co-op still to declare a price for September milk.
MPI
Meanwhile, the latest milk price indicator (MPI) published by the UFU has recorded a 0.4p/l increase, taking it to 28.42p/l.
Driving the price rise was the recent gains for butter and milk powders at last week’s GDT auction.