NI’s largest milk processor, Lakeland Dairies, has held its base price unchanged for June, but added a “market support payment” of 0.5p/l, paid on all milk supplied over the first six months of the year.
The 0.5p payment effectively takes the starting point for June milk from 30.1p/l to 30.6p/l.
When calculating the additional monies backdated to January 2026, the 0.5p payment will be adjusted for milk constituents, so it is not a straight additional payment on all litres. Allowing for solids, the average supplier is likely to see a payment of around 0.57p/l/.
Dale Farm
On Wednesday Dale Farm confirmed it had reduced its 2p/l ‘market support’ from May to 1.5p/l for June supplies. That effectively takes the co-op’s starting price for June milk from 32.3p/l to 31.8p/l.
Dry weather
Meanwhile, reports from England and much of continental Europe suggest a prolonged dry period is starting to have a significant impact on production and that is starting to put upward momentum into dairy markets.
Spot milk in England has risen sharply in recent weeks, with returns as high as 48p/l.
At the Dutch Dairy Board auction on Wednesday, commodity prices were all up, with butter increasing by €120 to €3,940/t, which is its highest price since early May. Whole milk powder rose €50 to €3,130/t, with skim up €80 to €2,770/t.
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