For a dairy farmer producing 1m litres annually, as shown in Table B, all processors paid above the 40p/l mark for milk with relatively good solids during April.

The milk qualities used in the calculations are outlined in Table 1 on the opposite page, and on high solids milk, prices averaged 42.72p/l across all processors last month. That is up 2.1p/l from March and just over 11p/l higher when compared to April last year.

On a monthly supply of 94,000 litres, this is worth an additional £10,340 in income year on year, although most of this will be absorbed by rising input costs.

Glanbia Ireland/Fivemiletown leads on 44.84p/l, up 2.8p/l on the previous month thanks mainly to its 2.5p/l support payment.

In addition, and similar to Dale Farm, Glanbia has new payment rates applying from 1 April, and these new increments reward farmers who produce high solids milk.

Behind Glanbia, Aurivo finishes second, gaining three places from last month with Lakeland Dairies moving from sixth to third.

For the first time this year, Dale Farm finishes outside the top two, having applied the lowest price increase for April.

Deductions due to transport and lower premiums on cell counts were other key reasons for finishing mid-table. Glanbia Cheese finishes in fifth, while Strathroy rounds out the table.

Moving to average milk solids, prices averaged 41.8p/l across the board, up 2.1pl on the previous month.

Again, Glanbia Ireland sets the pace on 43.76p/l with Aurivo and Lakeland Dairies finishing second and third.

Glanbia Cheese edges out Dale Farm thanks to its 0.65p/l volume bonus and 0.4p/l mozzarella bonus for milk produced above 4% butterfat and 3.2% protein.

As base prices continue to increase, so does the 12 month rolling average for each processor as outlined in Table C.

On high solids milk, Glanbia has finished first for the last seven months, with Dale Farm paying the second highest rolling average at 35.35p/l.

Aurivo moves up one spot, finishing third on 35.08p/l as Glanbia Cheese slips to fourth. Lakeland and Strathroy are unchanged.

On average solids, Glanbia leads on 35p/l with all remaining positions unchanged from the previous league table.

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