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The highest price ever recorded in our analysis has now been set by Glanbia Ireland/Fivemiletown, with 39.76p/l paid for high-solids milk collected on alternate days during February.
The outlined price is based on a 1m litre producer supplying milk at 4.39% butterfat and 3.45% protein, as outlined in Table 1.
The relevant premiums on cell counts are also factored in, as are Glanbia’s sustainability and winter bonus payments.
The table-topping price surpasses the previous record high of 38.15p/l set by Lakeland Dairies back in December.
Across all processors, high-solids milk averaged 38.32p/l, up from 36.68p/l in January.
Dale Farm gains one place to finish third, while Glanbia Cheese also moves up one spot to fourth thanks to its 0.4p/l mozzarella premium and 0.65p/l volume bonus.
Average solids
Moving to average milk solids, Glanbia Ireland is again out in front on 38.78p/l.
Strathroy lies in third, an increase of four places from the previous league. Glanbia Cheese edges out Dale Farm, while Lakeland and Aurivo are tied for sixth on a price of 36.55p/l. When releasing its price for February, Lakeland confirmed that it would pay out “over 36.75p/l” on average across all NI suppliers.
Rolling prices
Each processor has increased its monthly base price in the seven-month period from August to February 2022, and during this period of escalating input costs, average base prices have increased from 29.51p/l to 35.36p/l.
It means that the 12-month average across all processors is 6.46p/l higher in February 2022 than in February 2021.
Glanbia Ireland/Fivemiletown dominates this price analysis across all three milk qualities. On high-solids milk, it leads the pack with a 12-month average of 34.51p/l.
Dale Farm overtakes Lakeland for third place, with NI’s largest processor slipping to fifth. Sandwiched in between is Glanbia Cheese in fourth.
Moving to average milk solids and Glanbia Ireland leads on 33.43p/l, up from the 32.82p/l recorded in the previous league table.
Dale Farm remains in third place on 33.09p/l, with Glanbia Cheese holding on to fourth. Aurivo moves up one place to fifth, with Lakeland and Strathroy rounding out the table.
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