There was a reshuffling of the pack in this month’s milk league, as a number of co-ops opted to increase base prices on the back of a more stable milk market in Europe.

Aurivo suppliers were the biggest winner of the month. The co-op lifted milk price nearly 14c/kg MS through an increase from the stability fund payment made to suppliers.

This lift has seen it rise to the top of division two and makes it the closest challenger to the four west Cork co-ops.

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The gap between division one and two has tightened, as the west Cork co-ops opted not to change their price, however, the difference still stands at 21c/kg MS.

Boherbue and Dairygold have also jumped places this month after price increases and now occupy the middle of division two.

Kinisla has dropped three places on the May milk league after holding base price and it is now in 10th place of the cumulative rankings for 2026. Kinisla finished fifth overall in the cumulative rankings last year, which could also be considered second if the four west Cork co-ops were counted as one.

So far this year they are well off that pace and they will need a strong second half of the year to get close to where they were in last year’s overall table.

It’s also important to note, however, there is very little between any of the co-ops in division two and those in division three.

Aurivo is as close to North Cork at the bottom as it is to the west Cork co-op’s in division one.

Although the differences are marginal, some of the bigger players have now joined Arratipp and North Cork in division three this month.

Lakeland was one of the co-op’s that opted to hold base price this month, but it has paid a top-up of 8c/kg MS excluding VAT on all milk purchased from January to June.

This top-up is being paid in the month of June, but as it’s based on previous months, the bonus payment was added to the cumulative payment column.

This addition has helped Lakeland to jump from 11th place up to ninth in the overall cumulative ranking.

Tirlán, despite increasing base price slightly, is now fourth from bottom and with the biggest milk pool in the country, this will come as disappointing news for suppliers.

Tirlán is essentially paying the same price as Lakeland, and is only 3c kg/MS behind Kinisla, but is quite a distance from the top of the league.