The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has launched an interactive monthly milk price comparison tool that will allow dairy farmers to see what they would have been paid for their supply by different milk processors across Ireland.

It is hoped the facility will allow a degree of transparency and comparison for farmers on an individual basis.

Game changer

ICMSA president Pat McCormack stated the new tool will be a game changer for suppliers, saying: “While various comparisons were made using different methodologies, an individual farmer was never in a position to compare their actual milk volumes, constituents and quality results on an individual basis and see what they would have received from another co-op.

“That precise, individual comparison is now available at the touch of a button. Farmers can now track and map their milk processor’s performance over any given period and compare it to other processors.”

Giant leap

The ICMSA has assured that interactive price tracker takes account of all bonuses and penalties.

Farmers can input their data for 2020 and get direct comparison, while a similar capacity for the first months of 2021 will be available shortly and every month thereafter.

“Milk price is central to dairy farmers’ incomes and the performance of your processor is decisive in this regard,” McCormack said.

“It’s a giant leap forward for farmers in terms of transparency and performance comparison and makes hugely valuable information available to farmers at the touch of a button.”