Payments to encourage farmers to produce milk during late autumn and winter months start in October for four of the six main processors of NI milk.

Included within that is Leprino Foods, which has changed its payment for the second year in a row. This time last year, the Mageralin based processor confirmed it was doubling its winter payment from 2p to 4p/l across the three months from October to December.

However, that bonus is now coming more closely into line with others, with Leprino confirming its suppliers will receive a 3p/l winter bonus across the four months from October through to January.

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It is a similar scenario at Dale Farm, although officially, NI’s largest dairy co-op is keeping its winter bonus unchanged at 2p/l for the three months from October to December.

However, like last year, the co-op has confirmed it will “bolster” base price to effectively ensure suppliers receive the equivalent of a 3p/l additional payment from October through to January inclusive.

No other processors have notified us of any changes around winter bonus payments this year.

Tirlán has the highest payout, with suppliers receiving 3p/l in the five months from October to February.

Aurivo also extends its payment across five months, although with a 2p/l bonus in October, January and February, with a 3p/l payment in November and December.

Lakeland Dairies and Strathroy are the only two co-ops who don’t make winter bonus payments in October. Both pay 3p/l in the four months from November to February.