Dairygold has announced a minimum contract price of €230/t for beans for the 2026 harvest.
The price is a guaranteed minimum price and if the price of beans goes up by harvest 2026, then growers will receive the higher price.
It is based on beans delivered at 20% moisture content.
The announcement was made at the co-op’s annual tillage conference on Friday 9 January.
Growers need to sign up with Dairygold to receive this offer and also need to purchase seed from the co-op.
Speaking on the price, Dairygold’s beef and tillage business manager Liam Leahy said: “This is a valuable and important native crop and our early minimum contract price for protein beans reflects our support for an important crop for the season ahead.
"Our range of dairy and ruminant feeds utilise both Irish grains and the valuable native protein.”
Previous offers
In 2025, Dairygold offered farmers a minimum price of €240/t for beans.
A price of €223/t was paid out in 2025 for non-contract beans, €17/t behind the minimum price offer.
The minimum-contract price was at €250/t in 2024. In 2023, the minimum price offer was €285/t and in 2022 it was €355/t.
These prices are all based on beans delivered at 20% moisture content.
Protein payment
Growers will also receive the Protein Aid payment from the Department of Agriculture.
This was €600/ha in 2025 and is based on a budget of €10m divided by the area of protein planted.
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