January 2018 Newsletter

Milk Price

The milk price for the month of December is unchanged at 37.71 cpl (171.43 cents per gallon) at 3.60% butterfat and 3.30% protein, including Winter Somatic Cell Count (SCC) bonus of 0.88 cpl and VAT at 5.4%.

The average price paid for the month is 43.04 cents per litre. This is based on the average butterfat of 4.45% and protein of 3.49%, including SCC bonus and VAT.

Milk Supply

Milk supply for 2017 is up 14.7 million litres approx. compared to 2016. This represents an increase of 8.57% in milk volume from 2016 to 2017. There is an 8.43% increase in milk solids over the same period.

Milk Supply Agreement

Most suppliers have already signed and returned their milk supply agreement and annual agreed volume application form for milk supply from January 1st 2018. Closing date for return of completed milk supply agreements is January 31st 2018.

Carbery Milk Survey 2018

Carbery in conjunction with the four West Cork Co-ops are carrying out a survey of all milk producers. The purpose of this survey is to establish the increase in milk supply in West Cork up to 2025. Carbery require this information to ensure the increase in processing capacity planned for the future matches the increase in milk supply in West Cork.

The survey will be completed online, the link to complete the survey is here.

Each supplier will receive a text from Drinagh in the coming days with this link. For any supplier that does not have access to the internet a paper copy can be completed. Please contact the Co-op if you require a paper copy.

Spring Dairy Seminar

The Society held its Spring Dairy Seminar on Thursday the 25th of January in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway. Speakers and topics included Mr. Jason Hawkins, CEO Carbery Group, speaking on Dairy Market Outlook, and Dr. Pat Dillion, Head of the Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation programme, speaking on Challenges and Opportunities for the Dairy Industry.

Spring Agri Promotion

Started on February 1st, 2018. See in-store & online for more information.

Fertilizer and Feed

Each milk supplier is receiving a summary of their purchases of feed and fertilizer from the Co-Op for 2017. Account holders are also receiving their annual statements this month.

These documents should be carefully filed for future use.

Johne’s Farmer Awareness Workshops

A new Johne’s farmers awareness workshop has been launched as part of the new Johne’s programme. These workshops are designed to assist farmers to better understand Johne’s disease and to provide information about the Irish Johne’s Control Programme.

Drinagh are planning to host a workshop in the coming weeks in the central office. The workshop will be run by a Vet and the duration of the workshop will be approx. 2.5 hours. Places are limited to 20 participants per workshop. If you are interested in attending this workshops please contact Darren Lynch / Tim Regan.

Milk Quality

As suppliers recommence supplying in the Spring it is important that proper standards are maintained from the beginning.

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

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.

Clearance Sale

Drinagh hosted a clearance sale at the Westlodge Hotel Bantry on Saturday and Sunday the 27th and 28th of January.