With the largest price increase of any processor for August supplies, Dale Farm is back at the top of the NI milk league.

The NI co-op increased its base price by 2.5p/l, taking it to 33p/l, although a 1.5p “market support” payment was reduced from 1.5p to 0.5p/l. Once the 0.3p loyalty payment is included, it was a starting price for August milk of 33.8p/l.

However, also factored into the Dale Farm price is its three-year Milk Production Realignment (MPR) scheme, announced in Spring 2024, and designed to help flatten the co-op’s milk production curve.

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Between August and January, it pays 4p/l for additional litres produced over and above a reference volume for individual suppliers, based on their average supply in the same month during 2021, 2022 and 2023.

During August 2026, the average MPR payout was 0.62p/l and with this payment added in, Dale Farm is ahead of the price paid by Tirlán for August milk.

It brings to an end a run of nine months when Tirlán/Fivemiletown has paid the leading price in NI.

Milk quality

Our main milk league analysis compares prices paid to a typical 750,000l producer at the actual milk qualities recorded by DAERA in the same month last year.

During the month, butterfat averaged 4.21%, with protein at 3.38%, SCC of 222 and TBC at 20.

As monthly litres reduce heading into the autumn, both butterfat and protein are up when compared to July (4.13% butterfat and 3.34% protein) and that rise in solids has put approximately 0.5p/l onto prices paid.

Second-placed Tirlán was the only milk processor to hold its August price, which was originally set in June as part of a three-month commitment.

Once a starting price of 32.55p/l is adjusted for milk quality, it is a final price paid of 35.6p/l.

Between September and December, this Tirlán starting price will increase to 33.4p/l, before a winter bonus kicks in from October onwards.

Third place

Behind the top two, Strathroy has moved up from fifth last month to sit third after the Omagh processor added 1p to its base price, taking it to 32p/l.

Aurivo drops from third to fourth, despite applying a price rise of 0.5p/l, with Lakeland dropping from fourth to fifth after the same 0.5p increase.

Even though Leprino Foods added 1p to base, taking it to 30.75p/l, the Magheralin processor remains bottom of our league for August.

Across the first six months of the year, the company’s 0.75p/l mozzarella bonus has been factored into our prices. However, neither July nor August milk meet the criteria for this bonus as SCC in both months was over 200.

Rolling prices

Also shown alongside our main August analysis is the rolling 12-month average price paid by each processor to a typical 750,000l producer between September 2025 and August 2026. Having led our milk league for most of this period, it is no surprise Tirlán has the highest average of 36.16p/l, which is over 1p/l ahead of Dale Farm in second. The top two continue to pull ahead of other processors, with all other rolling prices below 34p/l.

Payout

Shown in Figure 1 is our best estimate of the payout made by each processor to a 750,000l producer in August, using the actual butterfat and protein notified to us by each company. With higher solids milk, Tirlán is able to close-in on top-placed Dale Farm.

This time last year when milk prices were still over 40p/l, those leading payouts were over £24,000.