Carbery raises its August base milk price by 1c/L

Carbery Group has set its August milk price, raising the base component by 1c/L. The company said the additional 0.5c/L payment introduced in July to acknowledge difficult weather conditions would continue through August.

A separate stability-fund payment of 1c/L will also be made. That payment was 2c/L in the preceding month. Carbery said the change to the fund payment forms part of the August pricing arrangement, while the overall milk price is being maintained.

If the announced terms are applied by the four West Cork co-operatives—Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird—the average August price will be 41.84c/L including VAT. The figure includes a 0.5c/L somatic-cell-count bonus and the FutureProof sustainability bonus.

The price calculated from the actual solids delivered in August is expected to be 48.51c/L including VAT. The two figures reflect different bases for calculating the payment: one is the stated average across the four co-operatives, while the other is based on the milk’s actual solids.

A Carbery spokesperson said the company was “pleased to increase our base milk price by 1c/L for August, while maintaining our overall milk price”. The spokesperson also said that the company recognised the operating conditions faced by its farmer suppliers because of the weather and would retain the additional 0.5c/L payment for the month.

Carbery has also held an event marking the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer. The event, titled “Leading the Way: Women Driving Innovation, Farming & Food”, brought together women working in farming, food, research and the wider agricultural sector for a panel discussion and networking session.

The panel included Ellis Mahon, Nicole Keohane, Aoife Dullea and Áine Hallihan. They discussed their experiences in the sector, opportunities and challenges for women in agriculture, and the importance of encouraging the next generation.