November 2017 Newsletter

Milk Price

The milk price for the month of October is unchanged at 37.31 cpl (169.61 cents per gallon) at 3.60% butterfat and 3.30% protein, including Summer Somatic Cell Count (SCC) bonus of 0.5 cpl and VAT at 5.4%.

The average price paid for the month is 45.39 cents per litre. This is based on the average butterfat of 4.52% and protein of 3.72%, including SCC bonus and VAT.

Fixed Milk Price Scheme 4

Drinagh is offering milk suppliers a new 3 year fixed milk price scheme beginning on January 1st 2018 and ending on December 31st 2020. This scheme is available to all milk suppliers at a minimum of 10% of 2017 supply volumes. However, in the event of under subscription, an increased volume of between 10% and 20% may become available for individual suppliers.

The price for the 3 year period at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% protein is 32.42 cents per litre including Summer SCC and Vat @ 5.4%. Milk supplied under the fixed milk price scheme will qualify for a bonus (if any) paid from the Society’s profits. It does not qualify for any bonus paid by Carbery.

An information pack and an application form to join the scheme is included in this months accounts and online here. The option to take up this scheme is voluntary. Closing date for the 4th fixed milk price scheme is Friday December 1st 2017.

SDAS Reminder

As and from 1st January 2018 milk collection will only take place from SDAS compliant milk producers.

Drinagh Agri Workshop

The Society's annual Agri Workshop will take place on Wednesday the 6th of December in the West Cork Hotel, Skibbereen. For more information on the Agri Workshop please see this month's management notes.

Milk Supply 2017

Milk supply from January to the end of October 2017 is up 12.9 million litres approx. compared to the same period in 2016. This represents an increase of 8.15% in milk volume from 2016 to 2017. There is an 8% increase in milk solids over the same period.

Health Cert 2017

The Department has made a change to the way your 2017 animal health cert is completed.

Each supplier should insert the number of milk producing animals on page 1 on their health cert, a printed list of milk producing animals or a hand-written list of all tag numbers of milk producing animals is no longer required.

CellCheck Milking for Quality Award 2016

The CellCheck Milking for Quality awards is now in its fourth year. The award is given to the 500 milk suppliers nationally with the lowest, weighted annual average SCC. This is based on SCC data collected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and analysed by ICBF.

Any supplier with at least 9 months SCC results are considered eligible. All farmers in the top 500 had an average weighted SCC under 78,000 cells/ml, which is an excellent achievement. Drinagh is well represented and especially proud that 39 of our milk suppliers have qualified for the CellCheck Milking for Quality award based on 2016 results.

Each winner will receive a waterproof plaque (see picture) that is designed to be mounted on the wall of their dairy or milking parlour.

The 39 Drinagh award winners are listed below in alphabetical order:

Aidan Hickey, Gurrane, Ballydehob

Ann Kingston, Ferlihanes, Rossmore

Anthony O'Shea, Gories, Bantry

Brendan O'Driscoll, Shreelane, Leap

Charles Hegarty, Caheragh, Drimoleague

Cornelius O'Callaghan, The Mall, Leap

David Kingston, Curraghnaloughra, Drinagh

Denis & Sheila Cronin, Ballyhadown, Drimoleague

Denis Collins, Letterlickey, Bantry

Denis G. O’Brien, Castledonovan, Drimoleague

Denis J. Cadogan, Coolboy, Caheragh

Donal & Mary Hayes, Shuntullig, Durrus

Francis Keating, Droumnacara, Church Cross

Jason Wolfe, Stouke, Ballydehob

John & Sandra Maher, Keelnaclasha, Skibbereen

John B. Leonard, Donegal, Reengaroga

John Hunt, Lissacha North, Schull

John O'Regan, Kielbronogue, Schull

John Young, Curraghlickey, Drinagh

Julie McSweeney, Drimoleague, Co.Cork

Kevin & Siobhan O'Driscoll, Kilmore, Drimoleague

Kieran Keane, Meenies, Drimoleague

Kieran O'Sullivan, Dunmanus, Goleen

Lawrence Hallihane, Lickowen, Castletownsend

Michael Leahy, Gurranes, Caheragh

Michael Russell, Knockane, Drimoleague

Neil Collins, Dromusta, Drimoleague

Peadar O'Driscoll, Reenmurragha, Church Cross

Pearl & David Shannon, Brahalish, Durrus

Richard Bradfield, Lettertinlish, Skibbereen

Richard Jennings, Keelinga, Leap

Richard Murphy, Breenymore, Kealkil

Robert Deane, Derrygareen, Skibbereen

Sean Dineen, Bawnbue, Drimoleague

Timothy Cronin, Lackareigh, Kealkil

Timothy McCarthy, Dromusta West, Drimoleague

Trevor & Carol Draper, Knockbue, Drimoleague

William Forde, Rock Mount, Drimoleague

William Wolfe, Knockawaddra, Lisbealad

REMINDERS

• Closing date for FMSP 4 Friday December 1st 2017
• Drinagh Agri Workshop on December 6th @ the West Cork Hotel Skibbereen