Dairy Council Report February 2026

Policy proposals for approval by National Council

None

Market Report 

December Milk Price cpl at 3.3% protein and 3.6% fat. 

PROCESSOR	PROTEIN €/kg (A)	PROTEIN VALUE c/L	FAT €/kg (B)	FAT VALUE c/L	VOLUME CHARGE c/L (C)	A+B-C c/L	Bonus c/L	VAT excl. c/L	VAT c/L	DECEMBER MILK PRICE	TREND c/L	MILK PAYMENTS YTD €
LISAVAIRD	6.20	21.05	4.13	15.31	3.54	32.83	0.88	33.71	1.52	35.22	-2.5	271821
DRINAGH	6.20	21.05	4.13	15.31	3.55	32.82	0.88	33.70	1.72	35.42	-2.5	271777
STRATHROY	6.73	22.87	3.64	13.48	4.00	32.35	1.00	33.35	1.70	35.05	-3.0	271400
BARRYROE	6.26	21.27	4.17	15.47	4.00	32.75	0.88	33.63	1.71	35.34	-2.5	271375
BANDON CO-OP	6.26	21.27	4.17	15.47	4.00	32.75	0.88	33.63	1.51	35.14	-2.5	271132
AURIVO	7.17	24.38	3.30	12.22	3.81	32.78	0.50	33.28	1.70	34.98	-2.0	270409
KERRY	6.07	20.64	4.05	15.01	4.00	31.66	0.50	32.16	1.45	33.60	-3.0	267153
ARRABAWN TIPPERARY	7.09	24.09	3.50	12.97	3.35	33.71	3.03	36.74	1.65	38.39	0.0	266285
LAKELAND	6.56	22.28	3.34	12.38	3.50	31.16	0.48	33.54	1.71	33.25	-3.0	263984
TIRLAN	7.25	24.62	3.62	13.43	4.00	34.05	5.26	39.31	1.77	41.08	5.0	263711
NORTH CORK	6.43	21.85	3.86	14.30	4.00	32.15	0.70	32.85	1.48	34.33	-1.0	262971
DAIRYGOLD	6.31	21.45	4.21	15.60	4.00	33.05	1.30	34.35	1.55	35.90	0.0	262246

Latest Commodity Prices 

Product	GDT 3rd Feb+6.7%	US Market – 30th Jan	EU Spot quotes 28th Jan	EU Futures – 30th Jan (Feb – Sep 2026)
Butter	€4876 (+8.8%)	€2935	€3970 (-2.2%)	€4274 (+2.7%)
SMP	€2427 (+10.6%)	€2674	€2153 (+1.7%)	€2380 (+2.2%)
Whey		€1403	€999 (+0.5%)	€1038 (+2.0%)
WMP	€3052 (+5.3%)		€3073 (+2.1%)
Cheddar	€4030 (+3.8%)	€2597	€3250 (-0.7%)

The Ornua PPI for September is 121.9 which equates to 34.2cpl incl. VAT. 

Early indications suggest that the market has begun to stabilise. However, there is still an ample supply of milk globally which could supress prices in the short term.

Activity since last National Council

• Extension to the Nitrates Derogation secured. 
• Meetings with financial institutions (BOI, AIB, PTSB and Finance Ireland)
  • Dairy farm bank accounts appear to be in a strong position heading into a challenging milk price year. 
  • Drawdowns have declined in recent years, and vast majority are less than €100k.
  • All institutions willing to provide retro finance. 
  • All institutions encourage farmers to engage early if experiencing financial stress. 
  • All institutions willing to provide unsecured finance up to approx. €100,000. 
• Attendance at the COPA Dairy working party meeting.
• Meeting with Minister Peter Burke regarding work permits. 
• Presentations to the Roscommon and Meath County Executives. 
• Attendance at Ornua Board and sub-committee meetings. 
• Attendance at Bord Bia Protest. TAC meetings scheduled have been postponed or cancelled. 

Any EU/COPA developments

Work has commenced on proposing amendments to the Habitats Directive as part of the Environmental Omnibus Simplification Package. 

Upcoming issues

• Milk Price Volatility.