Dale Farm will once again offer an additional 4p/l to suppliers through its milk expansion scheme this winter.

Initially launched back in October 2016, the scheme is geared towards increasing milk production during the final quarter of the year when supplies fall off.

The extra 4p/l payment will apply during October, November and December 2017 and is payable on every litre of milk above the volume supplied by a producer during the corresponding month in 2015.

This means that a Dale Farm supplier producing 110,000 litres in October 2017, having previously produced 100,000 litres in October 2015, will be entitled to an additional £400 in their monthly milk cheque (10,000 litres at 4p/l).

2016 scheme

This differs from last year, when the 4p/l top-up was paid on all litres that were over and above 95.7% of production levels during the corresponding month in 2015.

A lower supply level was used in 2016 to reflect the decline in milk production last year.

Close to 600 dairy farmers availed of the extra payment in late 2016. When applied across all litres supplied during this period, the additional payment equated to an extra 0.3p/l to farmers.

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