Lakeland Dairies has held its base milk price for January and introduced an input support payment.

The processor will pay a base milk price of 31.81c/l, excluding VAT, inclusive of a 0.48c/l excluding VAT, sustainability incentive payment.

To help and support farmers through the current market challenges, the co-op has announced that it will pay a 1.91c/l, excluding VAT, input support.

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In addition, farmers in the Republic of Ireland will receive the usual 0.95c/l, excluding VAT, early calving bonus. The co-op will also pay 4.78c/l, excluding VAT, on all qualifying litres for the out-of-season bonus.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland (NI), a base price of 26.3p/l will be paid for milk supplied in January which is also inclusive of the sustainability incentive payment.

This is the same as the price paid in December. An input support of 1.75p/l will also be paid.

All farmers will also receive an out-of-season payment of 3p/l. This will bring the minimum base price for milk in NI to 31.05p/l.

“Following a period of significant weakness, global dairy markets have shown some tentative signs of stabilisation. That said, conditions remain unpredictable.

“Lakeland Dairies will continue to monitor the markets and will endeavour to support our farmers with the best milk price possible in line with market conditions,” a Lakeland Dairies spokesperson said.