There is no change at the top of the NI milk league for November, meaning Tirlán/Fivemiletown is out in front for the third month in a row.

The Republic of Ireland-based co-op held on a 40.9p/l base, rising to 43.9p/l when its winter bonus is included.

That starting price is the second lowest across all processors.

However, the A+B-C payment model used by Tirlán rewards farmers for producing good solids. The co-op also pays higher TBC and SCC premiums than other processors and when all adjustments are accounted for, Tirlán stays out in front with a price paid of 48.33p/l.

Milk quality

The November milk league is based on the average milk quality recorded by DAERA in the same month in 2023. Last November, NI farmers supplied milk at 4.39% butterfat, 3.40% protein, 4.7% lactose, 16 TBC and 192 SCC. That butterfat figure was the highest monthly average last year, while the protein figure was the second highest.

Behind Tirlán, Lakeland Dairies moves up three places to finish second and also benefits from the rise in milk quality as its payment increments start from a relatively low 3.85% butterfat and 3.19% protein.

Those premiums add 2.7p/l to its published price, which also includes a 3p/l winter bonus and the recently announced 0.65p/l loyalty bonus, payable on all litres supplied in 2024.

Aurivo moves up one place to third, having been the only processor to increase base price in November. While it only put 0.2p/l onto base, it also added 1p/l to its winter bonus, taking it to 3p/l.

Dale Farm slips two places to fourth. Although its 44.8p/l starting price is boosted by a 0.51p/l premium under its milk production realignment scheme, deductions for transport, higher base levels for fat and protein, plus smaller premiums on cell counts, sees the co-op slip down the table.

That leaves Leprino Foods dropping two places to fifth, while Strathroy rounds out the table on 46.24p/l.

12-month rolling average

For the rolling 12-month period ending November 2024, Tirlán is the only processor paying above 40p/l, with a 1.4p/l gap over its closest competitor.

That position has now been taken by Lakeland, as the inclusion of its 0.65p/l loyalty bonus into our calculations has lifted the co-op three places.

Dale Farm slips to third with Aurivo and Strathroy also dropping a position to fourth and fifth, leaving Leprino Foods bottom of the table.

Estimated payout

Figure 1 uses the average fat and protein values recorded by each processor for November milk to estimate an actual pay-out to farmers.

Tirlán leads on £26,993 with Aurivo in second place on £26,215 due to co-op having the highest combined milk solids across all NI milk processors.

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Aurivo out in front for November milk