Lakeland Dairies topped the November milk league with an all-in price of 34.33p/litre for a supplier on alternate day collection.

Central to the table-topping price is a winter bonus of 3p/litre, payable on all milk supplied in November and December. The co-op held its base price at 30p/litre in November, which includes a 1p/litre butter bonus, first paid on September milk.

The retention of the 1p butter bonus was well received by suppliers, although given the recent price pressure in commodity markets, it came as a surprise to others in the processing trade.

Other factors which have had a major bearing on the final positions in the November league include the value of milk solids and transport charges. Good milk solids are worth an additional 1.1p to 1.3p/litre, while transport costs range from zero at Glanbia Cheese and Lakeland to 0.55p/litre for Dale Farm on alternate day collection.

When all calculations are made, it means there is clear daylight between first and second position in the league, with a price differential of 1.3p/litre. From top to bottom, the range in prices is over 3p/litre.

The November league is based on a 650,000-litre producer with normal seasonal supply and alternate day collection. Milk quality is based on the same month in 2016 and therefore set at 4.17% butterfat, 3.34% protein and 4.64% lactose, with 23 TBC and 222 SCC.

The only processor which changed its base price for November was Dale Farm. Northern Ireland’s largest milk processor cut its base by 0.5p/ litre to 29.7p/litre, which becomes 30p/litre when the 0.3p/litre loyalty bonus is added.

Dale Farm continues to pay a winter bonus of 2p/ litre on all milk delivered during November and this also applies for December. After top-up payments on milk quality are included, Dale Farm is in second place in the league with a final price of 33.03p/litre.

Having topped the league in October, LacPatrick slips to third position on a Red Tractor price of 32.61p/litre, with its standard milk price in fifth place. The move down the table is due to LacPatrick reducing its winter bonus from 3p/litre in October to 2p/litre in November, with the co-op holding its base on 29.45p/litre for Red Tractor milk.

Glanbia Cheese is in fourth place with a milk price of 32.48p/litre, which includes a 29.25p/litre base and winter bonus of 2p/litre.

Aurivo is nestled in mid-table on a price of 32.18p/litre after holding its base on 29p/ litre. The co-op also paid a winter bonus of 2p/litre.

Strathroy is in seventh and eighth place, with 31.93p and 31.73p/litre paid on Red Tractor and standard milk respectively.

With no winter bonus in place, it leaves Glanbia Milk and Fivemiletown at the bottom for the second successive month on 31.1p/litre, but both continue to perform strongly in the 12-month rolling averages (see below).