Tirlán has confirmed a 1.90c/l ex VAT reduction in base milk price for November’s supplies, as it announced out-of-season bonuses for non-contracted supplies and a €5.5m farm input rebate package for suppliers.

Suppliers are to receive a base price of 33.85c/l ex VAT for November’s milk, with a sustainability action payment of 0.48c/l ex VAT to be paid to qualifying suppliers reflective of delivered constituents.

The co-op also said that “unconditional seasonality bonus payments” will be paid over the next three months on any milk volumes not qualifying for liquid premiums or its autumn calving scheme.

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The bonus rates ex VAT at base constituents are 4.76c/l for December supplies, 6.66c/l for January volumes and 4.76c/l for February milk.

These bonuses will be adjusted to reflect actual constituents.

Milk output

Tirlán’s chair John Murphy said that milk output remains strong in key milk producing regions, with recent forecasts pointing to declines in EU and New Zealand supplies into 2026 but that “the timing of any slowdown in supply remains uncertain”.

“From a positive perspective, European prices are now competitive on the world market which is helping to move product. It is also notable that strong demand remains across the protein sector.”

Feed and fertiliser rebates

The co-op also announced a €5.5m dairy support package aimed at supporting milk suppliers through the early stages of 2026, which will be paid into trading accounts in the second quarter of 2026.

The initiative will give suppliers the opportunity to avail of rebates on the following products at the following rates purchased between 4 January and 2 May 2026: €40/t for GAIN dairy feed, €60/t for milk replacer, €10/t for Irish rolled cereals and €3/t for straight feeds.

In addition, there's a €20/t rebate on fertilisers ordered between 1 December 2025 and 14 February 2026 paid for at the time of purchase or by milk account instalments over the peak supply months.

Tirlán said that the rebates have been brought forward in a bid to cut farm costs for feed and fertiliser, while allowing suppliers to maintain cow performance, grass growth and milk solids.

The rebates have conditions aimed at rewarding those who trade with their co-op by being available to those who have spent at least 5c/l with Tirlán in 2025 or who do so in 2026.

Those who qualify based on their trading with the co-op in 2026 will receive their rebates in a second payment run later into 2026.

Furthermore, anti-parasitic prescriptions from Tirlán will be “provided free of charge for all of 2026”.

Seven meetings

Tirlán is to also host seven regional meetings on business and market outlook between 12 and 19 January.

“We would encourage as many of our shareholders and suppliers as possible to attend one of our farmer meetings to hear the latest on the market outlook, the business priorities for 2026 and beyond, and the practical supports available from your co-op as you prepare for spring,” co-op chair said.

“You will also have the opportunity to meet board members, senior management and your local representatives on our co-op’s structure.”