Glanbia Ireland/Fivemiletown raised its starting price to 46.99p/l for July, helping it stay on top of the Northern Ireland milk league.

Glanbia has topped the league throughout 2022 and once adjustments are made on milk quality, volume and transport, our analysis indicates a July price of 47.47p/l for milk collected on alternate days.

All processors opted for a 2p/l increase on milk delivered last month, maintaining the 1.9p/l differential from the highest to lowest base prices for July. In the case of Glanbia, its starting price of 46.9p/l breaks down to an actual base of 41.75p/l, along with a 0.4p/l sustainability bonus payable on all litres.

This is then boosted by a 4.75p/l agri-input support payment, which is again payable on all litres, including milk committed under Glanbia’s fixed price schemes.

Milk quality

For July, the league positions are calculated on milk produced at 3.92% butterfat, 3.21% protein, 4.7% lactose, 25 TBC and 223 SCC, with these figures taken from DAERA statistics for the same month last year.

With milk solids close to base levels set by each processor, the impact of butterfat and protein on the final league positions is quite small.

Instead, base price plus the adjustments for volume and transport have a greater weighting on the final prices published.

Positions unchanged

Aurivo finishes second for the fourth consecutive month, paying 46.78p/l after raising its base to 46p/l.

Lakeland Dairies also paid a base of 46p/l, helping it retain third place on 46.6p/l. Dale Farm did pay a higher base at 46.05p/l, but remains in fourth place.

Transport charges and lower premiums at the outlined milk quality hinder the co-op’s league position, but as milk quality rises moving into autumn, this situation is likely to change under its new payment structure.

Glanbia Cheese is the only processor to improve its league position from the previous month, joining Dale Farm in joint fourth place, leaving Strathroy at the foot of the table on 45.52p/l.

Rolling average

Unsurprisingly, Glanbia Ireland continues to lead our price analysis for milk collected daily or on alternate days over the 12 month period ending July 2022.

For alternate day collections, Glanbia tops the table on 38.75p/l. Dale Farm remains in second place paying 37.88p/l, just 0.07p/l ahead of Aurivo in third place.

Moving to daily milk collections, Glanbia leads on 38.46p/l. Aurivo is unchanged in second place, while Glanbia Cheese remains in third spot.

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