Both Lakeland Dairies and Tirlán have increased their base milk price for March, as the two co-ops’ seasonality bonuses paid out earlier in the year have ended.

Suppliers of Lakeland Dairies are to receive a base milk price of 34.20c/l excluding VAT for March, a rise of 2.88c/l excluding VAT on February’s base, and with 0.48c/l excluding VAT of a sustainability payment due to qualifying suppliers.

The co-op’s 4.78c/l excluding VAT out of season bonus, 1.91c/l excluding VAT early calving bonus and 1.91c/ l excluding VAT input support payment that were paid on Febraury supplies have been ceased.

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Tirlán has announced that it will hold its base milk price at 35.00c/l excluding VAT for March, April and May “subject to any unforeseen events”.

While the co-op announced a 0.96c/l excluding VAT increase for March over February’s base milk price, the milk cheque landing with suppliers over the following days will be the first of this year to include no seasonality top up.

A solids-adjusted sustainability action payment of 0.48c/l will also be paid out to qualifying suppliers.

The average supplier milk price at delivered constituents will come to 39.69c/l excluding VAT for March supplies.

The co-op said that current market returns are below its three-month milk price but that Tirlán’s board “has taken a decision to set a milk price ahead of the market”.