All co-ops have passed on increases to their farmer members for September milk. However, farm organisations have slammed them for not passing on greater returns to farmers.

The majority of co-ops have increased the August price by 1c/litre for September. Glanbia and Lakeland were the first to increase for September. Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) increased by 2c/l, but the Glanbia co-op support went from 2c/l to 1/l, which resulted in a net increase for members of 1c/l on August.

IFA dairy committee chair Seán O’Leary said co-ops had been “too conservative in setting the September milk price”.

O’Leary pointed to a 1.4% increase in Tuesday’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) as well as an 11.2-point increase in the Ornua PPI since July as the reasons for wanting greater increases from co-ops.

ICMSA dairy committee chair Gerald Quain said a 1c/l increase was demonstrably well short of market improvements and he accused co-ops of “yet again” holding back on milk price improvements for farmers.

LacPatrick has announced a fixed milk price scheme for 2017, at 28.4c/l (ex-VAT) in the Republic of Ireland and 25p/l in Northern Ireland.

After a stutter two weeks ago, the GDT in New Zealand showed life again this week. The average price of whole milk powder (WMP) increased by almost 3% to $2,760/t, while butter prices were up 2.6% to just under $4,000/t.

Meanwhile, the IFA will hold a liquid milk rally in the Heritage Hotel, Portloaise, Co Laois, next Tuesday 25 October.

September milk prices

The Irish Farmers Journal reports milk price excluding VAT.

Arrabawn up 1c/l to 25.3c/l.

Aurivo up 1.25c/l to 24.5c/l.

Bandon up 1c/l to 25.6c/l.

Barryroe up 1c/l to 26.2c/l.

Dairygold up 1c/l to 24.2c/l.

Drinagh up 1c/l to 26.1c/l.

GII up 2c/l to 24.7c/l (Glanbia co-op support cut from 2c/l to 1c/l).

Kerry up 1c/l to 24.7c/l.

LacPatrick up 1c/l to 24.7c/l (price includes .25c/l Bord Bia Quality Assurance payment and 1c/l increase for winter bonus).