August 2018 Newsletter

Milk Price

The milk price for the month of July has increased by 1.0 cents per litre to 35.21 cpl (160.06 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 37.26 cpl. This is based on the average butterfat of 3.92% and protein of 3.39%, including SCC bonus and VAT.

Mill Extension Opening

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar officially opened the Society’s new mill extension last month. Drinagh has invested €3.75m approx. in this extra capacity to cater for increased demand arriving out of the removal of milk quotas in 2015.

The extension has enabled the Mill to double output to 120,000 tonnes per annum. This increased capacity has proven to be invaluable during this Spring’s fodder shortage and again during the extended drought period. The extension also allows the Society to assist other co-ops and millers during high demand.

Origin Green Award Nominee

Timothy and Shane McCarthy pictured above were the Drinagh recipients of the Carbery Sustainability Award at the Quality Milk Awards back in June.

Timothy & Shane were nominated by Bord Bia as the Drinagh representatives for the Origin Green Farmer Awards. Selected based on the results of the Sustainability Survey carried out during their latest Bord Bia Quality Assurance audit. Their farm was identified as being the top performer from both a Quality and a Sustainability perspective including farm efficiency, carbon footprint and water quality within the Drinagh area.

The McCarthys will represent Drinagh in the Bord Bia Origin Green Sustainable Producer Awards later in the year. Origin Green is a unique sustainability development programme developed by Bord Bia.

Drinagh wish to congratulate Timothy and Shane on their outstanding achievement.

Carbery Open Days

Celebrating 50 Years

This year Carbery is celebrating 50 years since commencement of operations in 1968.

To mark this very special occasion Carbery would like to invite the Drinagh Co-op shareholder suppliers and families to an:

Open Day event on October 3rd and October 4th at its Ballineen headquarters.

The Open day will include an insight into Carbery’s activities, products and global markets and promises to be an informative and memorable occasion.

More details will follow soon via Co-op communications regarding registration for this event.

Milk Recording

Munster are now offering herdowners the opportunity to sign up for 5 milk recordings – one this Autumn and 4 in 2019 and payment from June 2019. Milk recording will help identify cows that are underperforming as well as high SCC cows.

Agricultural Sustainability, Support and Advice Programme (ASSAP)

The Agricultural Sustainability, Support and Advice Programme (ASSAP) was recently launched. This programme is a whole-government, whole-sector approach to addressing Ireland’s water quality issues and supporting sustainability and best practice on farm.

The ASSAP was also a necessary requirement to retain Ireland’s nitrates derogation until 2021. Addressing water quality issues will also be key in securing Irelands nitrates derogation post 2021.

As part of the ASSAP programme, Carbery Group are obligated to recruit 30 new pilot farms for the ASSAP initiative. Therefore 8 farms are needed from the Drinagh Co-Op area.

Milk suppliers involved in the pilot programme will work with the Dairy Sustainability Advisor, Aoife Feeney to address the following;

• Soil Testing – Every 2 years (will be subsidised by the Co-op)
• Nutrient Management Planning (NMP) – Each participant must complete an NMP
• Water Quality – aim to improve farmyard management, land management and manure management to reduce the on-farm risks to water quality.
• Sustainability Plan – A plan will be drawn up by the advisor to improve best practice on farm and minimise on-farm risks. This will also aim to improve farm profitability and improve sustainable practice.

Carbery are looking for milk suppliers who are interested in sustainability and promoting best practice. They must be willing to share information at farm walks or discussion groups over the 3 year pilot programme. Interested parties can contact Tim Regan/ Darren Lynch for further information.

This is a Non- Regulatory, Support and Advice programme.

Reminders

• Carbery Open Day Oct 4th & 5th
• Milk price for July increased by 1.0cpl