Glanbia reveals prices it will pay Kilkenny milk farmers as fears grow over Covid-19

The spread of coronavirus is affecting dairly supply chains and trade, the head of local diary giant Glanbia has said.

Glanbia Chairman Martin Keane added: “Our immediate priorities are to ensure the safety of our people and to assist our farmer suppliers and customers to work through the challenges. We urge everyone to follow the official advice from the HSE and other appropriate authorities.”

A number of weeks ago Glanbia Ireland initiated its Business Continuity Planning (BCP) process to deal with the challenges arising from the current outbreak of Covid-19.

This includes contingency plans for safe deliveries to, and collections from, any farm impacted by the outbreak.

The Glanbia chairman made the comments as the company confirmed it will pay its Kilkenny milk suppliers 34.42 cent per litre for February.

The company confirmed it will pay a base milk price for February of 31 cpl (including VAT) for creamery milk at 3.6% fat and 3.3% protein. This is unchanged from the January base price.

Farmer members will also receive a 0.42 cpl (including VAT) payment from Glanbia Co-op on all milk supplied this month as their ‘Share of GI Profit’.

The compnay said this payment, which will be adjusted each month to reflect the constituents of milk supplied, will be paid on all milk supplied by Co-op Members in 2020.

Meanwhile, an Early Calving Bonus (ECB) of 3cpl (including VAT) will be paid to creamery suppliers for February milk. The ECB replaces the previous Seasonality Scheme.

Participants in the Autumn Calving Scheme (ACS) will be paid 8.5 cpl (including VAT) on their contracted November to February volumes. Liquid Milk contract holders and Autumn Calving Scheme participants are not eligible for the Early Calving Bonus.