Our analysis shows that prices paid to NI milk producers have been on an upward trajectory since August 2021.

Back then, processors raised base prices by 0.25p/ to 0.5p/l with the average price across the board being 29.51p/l.

Since then, excluding winter bonuses, milk prices paid by all processors have consistently increased every month up to August 2022.

That run of higher prices was broken by Tirlán last month when it decided to hold its base price. Others added anywhere from 0.5p/l to 1.5p/l.

It means the average base price across all processors was 46.74p/l for milk produced last month, a differential of more than 17p/l year on year.

For a 1m-litre producer supplying around 8% of their annual yield during August, the outlined differential is worth an additional £13,600 in income, before deducting costs of production.

Shown in Table B are the August prices paid to a 1m-litre supplier for milk produced at three different qualities outlined in Table 1 on the opposite page.

Across all processors, high solids milk averaged 48.82p/l, up from 47.52p/l in July.

With Lakeland Dairies setting the pace on base price, NI’s largest processor is out in front on 49.4p/l, a gain of two places from July.

Slipping one place to second is Tirlán on 49.31p/l. Glanbia Cheese moves up one place to third thanks to its volume and mozzarella bonuses, worth a combined 1.05p/l, with Dale Farm also gaining one place.

Average milk solids

On average solids, prices averaged 48.15p/l across all processors, up from 46.65p/l in July.

Again, Lakeland leads the pack on 48.75p/l with Tirlán slipping to second.

Both Glanbia Cheese and Dale Farm move up one place to third and fourth positions with Aurivo and Strathroy rounding out the table.

Twelve-month rolling average

The price changes for August have not altered the positions in our 12-month rolling average league tables. This means Tirlán continues to lead across all three milk qualities, paying 41.42p/l for high solids milk and 40.47p/l for average solids milk. Dale Farm remains in second across all three qualities.

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