Lakeland Dairies was first off the mark by declaring its December milk price last week. In a move that surprised many, it added 1p/l to its November price which moved December’s base milk price to 24.5p/l.

Adding in its 3p/l winter bonus, the December price starts at 27.5p/l before any further payments on volume or milk quality, which will see some producers surpass the 30p/l barrier.

LacPatrick’s board met this week and indications are that it has added 1.5p/l to its November price.

With no winter bonus payable on December milk, this brings its base price to 24.5p/l before volume and quality adjustments.

LacPatrick pays a further 0.2p/l for producers who are registered under the Red Tractor label and reports indicate that there has been an increase in applications to obtain Red Tractor accreditation by LacPatrick suppliers.

Glanbia Milk declared its December price last Friday. It also added 1p/l to its November price, bringing it to 23.9p/l. When adding in its year-round 0.6p/l bonus, it also brings the Glanbia price to 24.5p/l.

Loyalty bonus

Dale Farm has increased its December price by 0.5p/l, bringing it to 24p/l. Adding on its loyalty bonus of 0.3p/l and winter bonus of 2p/l brings the Dale Farm price to 26.3p/l before volume and milk quality adjustments.

With Dale Farm offering a 4p/l incentive to producers to increase supplies above December 2015 levels, a further 0.33p/l is payable on all litres supplied by 713 producers, which would leave it 0.9p/l behind the Lakeland price before quality and volume payments.

The incentive has proved successful with December’s milk pool surpassing that of the previous year.

Glanbia Cheese remained unchanged for December at 23.25p/l and will continue to pay an additional 2p/l as a winter bonus, bringing it to 25.25p/l before volume and quality adjustments.

Unchanged

Strathroy is also unchanged from November at 24p/l. A winter bonus of 1p/l is also applicable on December’s base price.

Aurivo released its December price midweek and added 1p/l to November’s price, bringing it to 24.5p/l, plus an additional 1p/l in the form of their winter bonus payment.

See next week’s Irish Farmers Journal for a full round-up of prices in our monthly milk league.