Tirlán launches new €30m 'weather support' package

Tirlán will pay a 3c/L “weather payment” on all March milk volumes as part of a new €30 million support package announced today (Monday, April 8) battling wet conditions.

John Murphy, chair of Tirlán, said the co-op is acutely aware of the challenges currently facing farmers.

“The exceptional rainfall affecting farmers in our catchment area is causing significant physical, financial and mental stress.

“A key role of a farm-family owned co-op is to support members when challenges arise. The board believes that it is appropriate for the co-op to now utilise some of our resources to support our members,” Murphy added.

According to Met Éireann the week ahead will be unsettled with frequent showers and rain, and some heavy downpours at times.

“As a result, rainfall amounts will be generally between one and three times higher than normal, with the wettest conditions expected in the west and northwest,” it warned today.

The Tirlán support package includes:

A 3c/L weather payment on all March milk volumes including liquid milk, autumn calving and fixed milk price schemes;
An extension of the current €30/t weather support payment on GAIN dairy feed until April 27.
An increase in the proportion of milk payment made as an early interim payment from 50% to 60% for April milk paid in May to boost cashflow.
An extension of the fertiliser credit scheme to the end of May.

Tirlán

The co-op also said it will establish an advance payment scheme which will offer “cashflow” support to suppliers.

“The advance payment scheme is a voluntary scheme offering milk suppliers an advance on future milk payments of 5c/L (based on March milk volumes).

“The advance payment, which will be made to the trading accounts of participating milk suppliers, will offer approximately €3,000 of interest-free cashflow support to an average milk supplier and will be set off against actual milk payments due over the peak months of May, June and July of 2025,”Tirlán added.