With dairy commodity markets remaining fairly subdued and winter bonus payments kicking in from October in some cases, there is little change to prices being paid by processors for September milk.

Lakeland Dairies confirmed on Tuesday a 0.5p/l increase, taking its base price to 31.9p/l.

NI’s largest milk processor has now increased its base seven months in a row and over that period, the starting price has risen 5.6p/l, although it remains behind the prices paid by some of its competitors.

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Dale Farm paid a leading price in August and it has decided to hold its starting price unchanged at 33.8p/l before adjustments for milk quality and transport.

The co-op did add 0.5p/l to base, but a 0.5p/l “market support” payment drops out in September.

Tirlán is expected to be slightly ahead in final prices paid for September milk.

Last month, it confirmed it will pay from a starting price of 33.4p/l across the last four months of the year, which is effectively a 0.85p/l increase when compared to August.

Of the processors to declare a September price, the biggest increase is at Strathroy, with the Omagh processor adding 1p/l, taking its base to 33p/l.

With whey protein at record prices earlier this year, processors with product to sell remain in a stronger position to pay leading prices.

To encourage higher protein milk, Dale Farm has updated its payment increments to apply from October to the end of the year.

The value of each 0.01% change in protein will increase from 0.067p to 0.076p/l.

Each butterfat increment will increase from 0.032p to 0.033p/l.

Commodities

Some manufacturers have turned to skimmed milk powder as a substitute for whey protein and that continues to support skim prices.

At the Dutch Dairy Board auction on Wednesday skim hit a four-year high, up another €170/t to €3,590/t. Since the start of the year that price has jumped €1,590/t.

For much of 2025, skim prices were around €1,500/t below whole milk powder, although that gap is now just €220/t.

At the latest Dutch auction, whole milk powder dropped €120/t to €3,810/t, with butter down €200 to a five-year low of €3,700/t.