ICMSA Demands Over 50c/L Base Milk Price for March

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has called for the March base milk price to be set above 50 cents per liter. This appeal was made by Noel Murphy, the chair of the ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, who also advocated for the reversal of cuts to the February milk price. He noted, "The fact that only two processors cut – and those were the first two to announce their prices – showed that the other co-ops were correct in their decision not to act prematurely and to read the market more accurately."

According to Murphy, the market remains positive, and earlier reductions were based on temporary drops in spot prices, which have since improved. He stated that the market is returning prices between 49.5c/L and 51.5c/L, negating the need for a base price below these figures.

Murphy emphasized that March is a crucial month as seasonal bonuses wane, making base price the key indicator for farmers to assess their processors' standings. He further stated, "The ‘Trump drama’ is a medium-to-long term concern but has no impact on current pricing and must not be used as an excuse to reduce milk price for March."

With positive trends in the global milk market and conducive weather conditions for production, Murphy argued for the reversal of February price cuts, aiming for a market return base price exceeding 50 cents per liter.