Tirlán has announced its milk price to suppliers for January milk, as well a pay out under its 2024 Trading Bonus Scheme.

The processor said it will pay a total of 58.08c/L, including VAT, for January creamery milk supplies at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein.

This is an increase of 2c/L on the price for December milk. However, this is due to an increase in the seasonality payment, rather than an increase in base price.

The seasonality payment of 7c/L , including VAT, will be paid on all creamery milk volumes supplied in January that meet quality criteria.

The January milk price consists the base price of 50.58c/L, including VAT (which is unchanged from December); a sustainability action payment of 0.5c/L (including VAT) to qualifying suppliers; and the seasonality payment.

The base price, seasonality payment and sustainability action payment will be adjusted to reflect the actual constituents of milk delivered by suppliers. The actual average price paid by Tirlán for January creamery milk, based on delivered constituents and including seasonality, will be 67.53c/L, including VAT, the processor said.

Commenting on the price, Tirlán chairperson John Murphy said: "We are very appreciative of all milk suppliers who supplied quality milk over the winter months.

"Dairy market returns are relatively stable as we enter the crucial period when European milk supply volumes ramp up through the spring. The board will continue to monitor the dairy market on a monthly basis," Murphy added.

He said that the seasonality bonus will "remain unchanged for next winter", i.e. 5c/L in December 2025, 7c/L in January 2026 and 5c/L in February 2026.

Some 2,100 Tirlán milk suppliers will received a trading bonus of 0.25c/L, or an average of €1,500 each, as part of its 2024 Trading Bonus Scheme.

The €3.2 million payment on 2024 milk supply volumes is part of an overall €5.9 million paid to Tirlán members for the 2024 Trading Bonus Scheme.

For the 2025 Trading Bonus Scheme, Murphy said that the dairy element of the Trading Bonus scheme has "evolved" for this year.

He said: "Data from our new Milk Solids Tracker has highlighted the importance of adequate feeding in the spring to improve milk solids production and set herds up for good full season performance.

"In response, we have reshaped the dairy element of the Trading Bonus Scheme to focus on driving milk solids production through peak," he added.

In 2025, a dairy feed bonus of €30/t will be available on purchases of GAIN Dairy Feed made between January and April 30 (subject to an overall maximum quantity of 110,000t).

In addition, a calf milk replacer bonus payment of €60/t will be available for purchases of GAIN Calf Milk Replacer during the same period (subject to an overall maximum of 2,000t).