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The March milk statement arrived to most dairy farmers in the last 10 days and for the majority it confirmed a hold position on milk prices.
The west Cork co-ops are out on top and this price excludes the milk quality bonus (0.5c/l) that is available for top-quality milk which over 70% of west Cork suppliers will be able to get.
Aurivo comes in a close second as it still has an unconditional bonus (1.4c/l) in for March supply, down slightly from the February bonus.
LacPatrick dropped out of the top tier and down into the bottom of division two as its 3c/l bonus disappeared.
Price held
All the big players – Dairygold, Arrabawn, Kerry, Lakeland and Glanbia – held their price for March supplies.
The other mover in the March monthly league is North Cork, which drops down a peg as price fell 0.13c/kg MS from €4.22/kg MS to €4.09/kg milk solids. The small North Cork co-op had lifted February milk price by 0.13c/kg MS or 1c/l in old money and that had pushed it into division two.
At the bottom of the table, North Cork is joined with Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies to prop up the base as both held price at just under €4.10/kg MS.
Average March price
The average Irish price ex VAT for the March monthly milk league is €4.19 per kilo milk solids at national average milk solids. The average price at 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat is 29.9c/l ex-VAT.
All prices are quoted ex-VAT and excluding SDAS bonuses and conditional bonuses such as cell count bonuses, etc.
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