Dairygold is to pay its grain suppliers a 2017 barley price of €145/t and a wheat price of €153/t. It will pay €140/t for oats.

The prices are excluding VAT and based on a moisture of 20%. The prices include a bonus of €5/t for growers who buy their inputs from the co-op. Approximately 75% of Dairygold suppliers will qualify for the bonus, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

Malting barley

The premium for malting barley grown on contract is €15/t over feed price at €160/t. It will pay €163/t for contract beans and €160/t for non-contract beans, at 20% moisture.

Oilseed rape has been set at €360/t, based on 9% moisture.

Announcing the prices, Dairygold said that it was committed to paying leading prices although “another large global harvest this year has resulted in the continuation of the very sluggish international and national grain prices”.

Dairygold is the second largest co-op buyer of grain in Ireland, taking in between 110,000t and 120,000t annually.

All eyes are now on Glanbia, which is the largest grain buyer in Ireland, accounting for 190,000t last year. It is expected to set its 2017 prices later this week. Other smaller grain buyers appear to be hanging back to see what Glanbia will announce before showing their cards.