Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown has retained its position at the top of the NI milk league during 2020, and has now led the table for five months in a row.

As NI milk production reaches its annual peak during May, all processors decided to leave base prices unchanged from April levels.

For table-topping Glanbia Milk, this meant its suppliers remain on a starting price of 23.75p/l, which is 0.5p/l more than its nearest competitor on base price, Aurivo, with a base of 23.25p/l.

Included within the Glanbia base price is its 0.6p/l year-round bonus payment. After factoring in the usual premiums on milk quality and deductions on transport, the Virginia-based processor tops the May league on 24.61p/l for milk collected on alternate days.

Milk quality

With May being the peak month for production, the level of milk solids is lower than in previous months.

Our prices are calculated using a butterfat of 3.94%, protein of 3.29%, lactose of 4.76%, 17 TBC and 193 SCC, which are the actual values recorded by DAERA for milk produced in May 2019.

Mid-table

Lakeland Dairies finishes in third place for the second month is a row on 24.32p/l, edging out Aurivo despite trailing the west of Ireland processor by 0.25p/l on base price.

However, Lakeland paid more on milk quality, and has zero collection charges on milk collected on alternate days, which was a key factor in calculating the final league positions.

Aurivo has overtaken Strathroy for fourth position, paying 24.17p/l, compared to the 24.01p/l paid by the Omagh based processor.

This leaves Dale Farm in sixth place on 23.88p/l with Glanbia Cheese rooted to the bottom of the league table for the fifth month in a row on 23.71p/l.

Rolling average price

With Glanbia Milk/Fivemiletown topping the monthly league tables since January, it has gradually closed the gap to Lakeland at the top of the 12 month rolling league table.

For the 12-month period ending May 2020, both are now on the same average price of 26.18p/l.

Glanbia last topped the 12-month league in December 2019, but has been behind Lakeland since then.

Daily collection

A similar trend has occurred on milk collected daily, with Glanbia Milk moving out in front of the pack with a 12-month rolling average price of 25.95p/l.

Aurivo and Strathroy had led the table for daily collection in April, but drop to third and fourth positions respectively.

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