Dairy Council Report November 2025

Policy proposals for approval by National Council

None

Market Report 

September 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	A+B-C c/L	Bonus c/L	VAT excl. c/L	SEPTEMBER MILK PRICE	TREND c/L	MILK PAYMENTS YTD €
STRATHROY	8.49	28.85	4.59	17.01	4.00	41.87	1.00	42.87	45.05	-3.00	234885.4
LISAVAIRD	7.82	26.58	5.21	19.33	3.54	42.36	0.50	42.86	45.05	-2.00	234793.1
DRINAGH	7.82	26.58	5.21	19.33	3.55	42.35	0.50	42.85	45.04	-2.00	234748.0
BARRYROE	7.88	26.77	5.25	19.47	4.00	42.24	0.50	42.74	44.92	-2.00	234340.2
BANDON CO-OP	7.88	26.77	5.25	19.47	4.00	42.24	0.50	42.74	44.92	-2.00	234106.5
AURIVO	7.99	27.15	4.97	18.44	3.81	41.77	0.50	42.27	44.43	-3.00	233994.3
KERRY	7.67	26.06	5.11	18.95	4.00	41.01	0.50	41.51	43.63	-3.00	231160.9
ARRABAWN TIPPERARY	8.42	28.60	4.15	15.40	3.35	40.65	1.11	41.76	43.89	-3.00	230452.1
TIRLAN	8.30	28.19	4.15	15.37	4.00	39.56	0.48	40.04	42.08	-4.00	229456.1
NORTH CORK	7.75	26.34	4.65	17.24	4.00	39.58	1.00	40.58	42.65	-3.00	228594.3
LAKELAND	8.54	29.01	4.35	16.12	3.50	41.63	0.48	42.11	44.26	-3.00	228273.3
DAIRYGOLD	7.13	24.23	4.75	17.62	4.00	37.85	1.30	39.15	41.14	-3.75	228179.8

Latest Commodity Prices 

Product	GDT 22nd Oct-1.4%	US Market – 24th Oct	EU Spot quotes 22nd Oct	EU Futures – 24th October (Oct – May 2026)
Butter	€5716 (-0.8%)	€3280	€5390 (-0.7%)	€5226 (+1.6%)
SMP	€2196 (-1.6%)	€2380	€2097 (-1.2%)	€2163 (-0.2%)
Whey			€912 (+1.7%)	€975 (+2.0%)
WMP	€3097 (-2.4%)		€3582(-1.1%)
Cheddar	€4082 (-1.9%)	€3690	€3636 (-1.5%)

The Ornua PPI for September is 145.7 which equates to 42.7cpl incl. VAT. Including the Ornua Value Payment this increases to 44.80cpl (VAT incl.)

Due to increased global milk supply particularly from the US, we have seen significant drops to commodity prices in the last 2 months. As long as grain prices remain low, we expect output from the US to drive on which will further increase supply and outstrip demand.

Activity since last National Council

• Submission to DETE on the provision of work permits 
  • we sought the continuation of permits for dairy farm assistants with an option for a 6-month permit at existing renumeration rates. 
  • new category of permits for dairy farm managers
• Meeting of the calf stakeholder forum
  • Estimated that 316k dairy replacements will be born in the spring of 2026
  • 13% fewer dairy female calves were born in 2025 compared to 2024
  • 29% of dairy serves in 2025 used sexed straws 
  • 217k calves have been exported mainly to the Netherlands and Spain in 2025
  • Animal transport regulations likely to fall within the scope of Irelands presidency of EU Commission
• Meeting with Dairygold regarding the 3c cut to the August milk price 
• Plenary vote on CMO
  • Supported ICOS position and amendments proposed by Barry Cowen
  • Vital that the dairy co-op structure is recognised and not undermined in new legislation
• Nitrates 
  • Attendance at the Water Quality Ag Group Meetings
    • Review of the 6^th NAP proposals 
  • Lobbied MEPs in Brussels 
  • In person meeting with board members from Carbery and Dairygold 
• Cell Check review of targets 
  • Targets for 2025 not met 
  • Desire to switch from numerical targets to actionable targets for Cell Check that can be actionable and audited. 
• Attendance at FAWAC
• Attendance at Ornua Board and sub-committee meetings
• Attendance at Dairy Research Trust meetings
• Attendance at NDC meetings by the deputy chair. 

Any EU/COPA developments

Meeting with COPA regarding implications of appropriate assessment requirement for nitrates derogation application.

Upcoming issues

• Consultation on the 6^th NAP and draft GAP regulations now open until the 1^st of December
• Bord Bia SDAS review 
• Milk Price Volatility