The Milk Price Review is simply the money paid out for all manufacturing milk supplied in the calendar year divided by total litres supplied – all milk-based payments included. It is this simplicity that is key to the understanding of how the review is calculated regardless of peak to trough ratios, winter milk schemes, etc.

While it may seem late in the year (mid-2015) to be reviewing 2014 results, it is only possible to complete this work after all annual accounts have been published and KPMG have reviewed all information presented.

The year 2014 will go down as a good year for dairy farmers. Similar to 2013, average milk price paid out was over 36 c/litre.

This year, in a change to the presentation of results for dairy farmer returns, we report required farmer investment in their co-op (share up), co-op profitability and milk price. All three combine to form a foundation for sustainable dairy farm returns.

The full KPMG/Irish Farmers Journal Milk Price Review is available to read online or inside the Irish Farmers Journal print edition in shops nationwide on the morning of Thursday 9 July. Subscribe here to read online .

Below are the top stories from the Irish Farmers Journal/KPMG Milk Price Review this week:

West Cork Co-op Barryroe complete a three in a row on top

Irish Farmers Journal's 2014 Milk Price Review

Milk price, investments and processor profitability combine for sustainability

The minimum level of share up varies between the Irish milk processors

Analysing the financial performance of the participating dairy processors in the KPMG milk price review