As outlined in Tables 2 and 3, farmgate prices in September passed the 31p/l mark for average-quality milk once payments on solids, hygiene and volume have been added in.

Producers meeting the exacting criteria for good-quality milk realised a milk price in excess of 33p/l.

With some processors holding their base price as demand for butterfat has eased in recent weeks, the upward momentum in milk price has slowed.

Base prices for September milk averaged 29.7p/l across all dairy processors, an increase of just over 0.5p/l on August.

Comparing with September 2016 when base prices averaged 20.6p/l, prices are up by 9p/l. As a result, even though some processors hold their base in September 2017, the rolling 12-month average has increased by 0.8p/l.

Table A outlines the 12-month average price for a producer supplying 350,000 litres annually. For good-quality milk, the average price was 28.39p/l, compared with 27.1p/l for average quality.

Thanks to a back payment of 0.86p/l on all milk supplied from January to June of this year, Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown have seen their positions in the rolling leagues improve significantly.

Both processors paid the highest price for good- and average-quality milk, at 28.77p/l and 27.5p/l, respectively.

Aurivo, which paid the highest 12-month price ending on 31 August, slipped to third position for good- and average-quality milk.

One million litres

Table B outlines the average 12-month price paid to a producer supplying one million litres annually.

Across all processors, good-quality milk averaged 28.79p/l with average-quality milk on 27.5p/l.

Aurivo continues to pay the highest price for good-quality milk at 28.99p/l.

However, as a result of the 0.86p/l back payment, Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown jumped from sixth to joint second place with a price of 28.97p/l. Lakeland slips from second to fourth on 28.84p/l.

Moving to average quality milk, Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown are now paying the highest price with 27.7p/l. They are followed by Glanbia Cheese on a rolling price of 27.58p/l. Just 0.1p/l separates Aurivo in fourth place from Dale Farm in fifth.

Lakeland is sandwiched between the Red Tractor and standard milk price at LacPatrick.