Northern Ireland’s largest dairy co-op Dale Farm has cut its base price for October milk by 3p/l, but when top-ups and incentives are added in, the starting price is unchanged from September.

Dale Farm is again paying its traditional 2p/l winter bonus from October to December.

However, like last year, it will top up this payment with an additional 1p/l over the next three months and an extra 3p/l in January 2026.

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It effectively means the co-op is adding 3p/l to base prices between October and January, which is broadly in line with winter payments made by other processors in Northern Ireland.

October base

The 3p/l cut in October takes the Dale Farm base price down to 33.3p/l to include a 0.3p/l loyalty payment.

But with the winter bonus and top-up included, that starting price is 36.3p/l, unchanged from September 2025.

That leaves Dale Farm well ahead of its main rival Lakeland Dairies for October milk.

On Wednesday, Lakeland confirmed a 3.5p/l cut to its base price, taking it down to 32.3p/l.

The co-op pays a 3p/l winter bonus across four months, but it doesn’t kick in until the November milk cheque.

See the northern edition of next week’s Irish Farmers Journal for a round-up of the prices being paid for October milk.