You could throw a blanket across the milk price for October, which is almost 6c/l ahead of where it was for the same month last year.

For October, just about all co-ops lifted 0.13c/kg milk solids or 1c/l. Lakeland leads the pack again, Kerry and Tipperary Co-op are on their own in division two, and Boherbue in North Cork bring up the rear.

The processors have paid out an average of just over €5/kg milk solids or 36c/l excluding VAT in old money for October milk cheques.

For comparison, this is the base price, at base milk solids, so in reality all milk suppliers will be getting much more than this once you add in the better milk solids at this time of the year, and VAT.

There are also conditional bonuses on milk quality and trading that some suppliers may get. We strip it back just to compare like with like.

Figures 1 and 2 show the milk cheque at higher milk solids. Using the average fat and protein delivered in Figure 2, we can see the difference.

The Glanbia farmers delivered, on average, 4.03% protein and 4.87% fat. This means Glanbia get more fat and protein to sell from each supplier so they have to pay out a higher price.

If we compare to Kerry, it got 3.9% protein and 4.65% fat on average and because the solids are lower and the price is lower, the milk cheque for October is almost €1,000 less.

The difference between the Ornua PPI and the league average still exists. The processors say processing costs have risen substantially. They also say they need to make a margin and that not all the Ornua PPI result is using Irish milk, so it’s not exactly comparing like with like. Elsewhere the GDT continues to rise and European prices continue to rise. Next month’s payout will be the last substantial milk cheque for most spring-calving farmers for 2021.