The March milk league shows the west Cork co-ops back out on top of division one as the unconditional winter bonuses for some processors have disappeared for March.

The west Cork co-ops assume top position by holding February price for March. Most of the rest dropped March price.

The only positive in the March league is that the board of the small co-op North Cork actually decided to buck the trend and have increased milk price for March relative to February. This pushes North Cork into Division two in between Kerry and Aurivo.

The other major player in the northwest, Aurivo, still pays an unconditional March bonus of 1.4c/litre. This helps Aurivo remain in division two at €3.39/kg MS, just under the west Cork co-ops, despite a cut in their base price for March.

The other big movers for March are those dropping down the league table. LacPatrick drops from top spot in the February league into the bottom of division three as the unconditional bonus is not available for March.

Dropped

Arrabawn, who was mixing it high up in February, has dropped well down for March, with price dropping from €3.44 to €3.25 per kilo of milk solids.

Remember, the monthly milk league excludes conditional bonuses. The big concern for all those farmers who have expanded and invested on farm is the positioning of Glanbia and Dairygold propping up division four in the March milk league. Glanbia makes the case for the month of March that it is paying 1c/litre Ornua bonus to all suppliers in advance and that the balance will be paid out on receipt. They rightly ask the question – where is the rest of the €15m Ornua bonus gone?

If Glanbia has paid out €3m then there is another €12m floating around either propping up milk price or still waiting to be delivered in April milk cheques.

I’ve talked to some co-ops this week who have had internal discussions but as yet no decision has been taken on how or when to pay it out. In this monthly milk league, Glanbia is not getting benefit for the fixed milk volumes (that have been set at higher prices) but this higher fixed price must not be used to subsidise lower base milk prices.

Dairygold had a big cut for February milk price and has followed up with a further March milk price cut to bring base price to €3.12 per kg milk solids from €3.25/kg in February.

The average Dairygold milk cheque at national average solids is back over €700 compared with a milk cheque from any of the west Cork co-ops. Dairygold has company now in division four as it is joined by Centenary Thurles and Glanbia who are all paying less than €3.20/kg milk solids.