Kerry Group has decided to hold its milk price for February milk at 25c/L, a spokesperson confirmed today.

This price is inclusive of VAT for member suppliers.

It follows Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies in holding the milk price for February supplies.

Glanbia Ingredients Ireland (GII) held its milk price at 24c/L including VAT for manufacturing milk at 3.6% fat and 3.3% protein for February supplies.

Glanbia will pay its member suppliers 25c/L including VAT for February milk (inclusive of a 1c/L Glanbia Co-Operative Society support payment to its members).

Last week, Lakeland Dairies was first out of the blocks to set a milk price.

The co-op held its base milk price for February supplies of milk at 25.5c/L (including VAT), a spokesperson has confirmed.

Meanwhile, yesterday Dairygold cut its price for February milk by 1.5c/L.

For February milk, Dairygold will pay member suppliers 24c/L for milk supplies.

Dairygold had held its milk price for January at 25.5c/L.

IFA to meet with Kerry over milk price and thirteenth payment as farmer anger grows

Meanwhile, the IFA is to hold a ‘top level’ meeting with Kerry Group senior management as farmer anger grows in relation to the co-ops milk price.

Sean O’Leary, the IFA’s National Dairy Chairman has said that he had been contacted by numerous Kerry suppliers expressing real concern about the Kerry milk price and whether or not a thirteenth payment would be justified to live up to their ‘leading milk price’ claim for 2015.

A spokesperson for Kerry Co-op said in recent days any additional top-up payment will be discussed in the context of the co-op’s milk supply contract and said discussions are ongoing in relation to this matter.

However, O’Leary said this topic would feature strongly on the agenda for discussion with Kerry.