January 2014 Newsletter

Milk Price

The milk price for the month of December is the same as last month- 39.80 cents per litre (180.93 cents per gallon) at 3.60% butterfat and 3.30% protein, including an increased bonus of 0.88 cents per litre for Winter Somatic Cell Count of less than 200,000 and including V.A.T. @ 4.8%.

Milk Supply

The milk supply for the month of December was 3,830,992 litres (842,703 gallons) with an average butterfat of 4.15% and an average protein of 3.47 %. This represents an increase of 1,233,494 litres (271,332 gallons) after butterfat adjustment on December 2012. The Co-Op was 2.45% over quota at the end of the December 2013. This equates to 3,073,000 litres (2,671,000 litres last month) over quota. If supply matches quota for the remainder of the quota year, this will result in a Super Levy bill of €880,614 for the Society before the allocation of National Flexi milk. Figures from the Department estimate the country was 1.63% over quota at the end of December.

2014 Milk Bonus

The Board agreed at a recent meeting that any milk bonus to be paid by the Society based on 2014 supplies will be subject to suppliers having purchases greater than 7.0 cents per litre for the full bonus. Purchases between 5.0 and 7.0 cents will receive half of any bonus. Purchases of less than 5.0 cents per litre will not qualify for a bonus.

Fertilizer and Feed

In this months accounts, each milk supplier is receiving a summary of their purchases of feed and fertilizer from the Co-Op for 2013. Account holders are also receiving their annual statements this month.

These documents should be carefully filed for future use. If a reprint of any document is required, a charge of €5 per document will apply.

Teagasc Information Morning

Information morning to take place in Darrara College on the 5th February starting at 10.30 (running to 1 o’clock). Topics to be covered are:

Protecting Your Herd from Johnes Disease at Calving’ By Sam Strain (Animal Health Ireland)
‘How to reduce Your Farm’s Energy Bill’ By John Upton (Teagasc)

In the interests of biosecurity and disease please do not bring wellingtons to the meeting.

Milk Quality

As suppliers recommence supplying in the Spring it is important that proper standards are maintained from the beginning. The first collection from each supplier will be tested for T.B.C., S.C.C. and antibiotics. Therefore milk should only be stored for a maximum of 4 days before collection. Contact your milk collection driver in adequate time so that collections can be arranged. We recommend that suppliers take a milk sample from their tanks and have it tested in Carbery prior to recommencing milk supply to ensure that the milk is fit for collection.

Final Milk Quota Trading Scheme

The 2014/2015 Milk Quota Trading Scheme will be the final opportunity to purchase or sell milk quota.

The Second Stage has a closing date of the 7th February 2014.

The maximum price for quota in the Priority Pool has been fixed at 3 cent per litre.

Application forms (green forms) for those wishing to purchase quota in the 2nd stage of the Scheme are included in this month’s accounts.

Selling Quota

Application forms for those wishing to sell quota are available from Seamus Daly in the Central Office. A person selling his/her quota under this scheme must cease milk deliveries definitively on or before the 31st March 2014.

The closing date for receipt of applications, which will only be accepted in the Department’s Headquarters in Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, is Friday 7th , February 2014. Quota purchased under the Scheme will be available from 1st April, 2014.

Remember this is the last opportunity to buy or sell quota.

Start of Season Dairy Hygiene Wash Procedures

To ensure Top Quality TBC Results in 2014 it is important to start right with your Cleaning Regime.

Ensure all equipment including water heater is working correctly. Check all rubber ware and replace all worn or damaged sections paying particular attention to rubber bends which are often a source of bacterial growth.

Milking Plant Cleaning Procedures

1. Descale plant with Descaler and hot water to remove any milkstone residues or mineral scale. Rinse Plant with Cold Water until all Acid residues are removed.
2. Detergent Hot wash to remove residual milk residues and general soiling. (If sufficient hot water is not available the wash should be done with Cold Water immediately after Descale Wash and a Hot Wash done the next day prior to recommencing of Milking Season.) Immediately Rinse plant with cold water.
3. Final Rinse Sanitation to ensure plant is sanitised and to reduce the bacteriological loading on the milking equipment. This can be done by adding Serpent or Clus-Ster XX to final rinse water.

Automatic Bulk Tank Cleaning

1. Descale any plant with Hot Descaler to remove any Milkstone Residues or mineral scale.
2. Detergent Hot Wash to remove residual Milk residues and general soiling (If sufficient hot water is not available the wash should be done with Cold Water immediately after descale Wash and a Hot Wash done the next day prior to recommencing of Milking Season).
3. Final Rinse Sanitation to ensure Plant is sanitised and to reduce the Bacteriological loading on the Milking equipment. This can be done by using Serpent or Clus-Ster XX.