Casein aid rate increase

The casein aid rate was increased by 14%, from €5.86 per tonne to €6.70 per 100kgs at the last dairy management meeting in Brussels. This development has been welcomed by the Irish industry.

Meanwhile, butter continues to be sold into intervention.

A total of 3,846 tonnes was sold into storage at a price of €2953,80 per tonne.

The largest quantity of 2,255 tonnes came from Ireland with 1,165 tonnes coming from Spain, 400 tonnes from Italy and 26 tonnes from Portugal.

The sales of skim milk powder into intervention have picked up a bit, with 2,993 tonnes accepted.

The total stocks of skim now stand at 132,798 tonnes (see table on EU Dairy Intervention stocks below).