Tirlán has said it will pay a total of 41.08c/L, including VAT, for milk supplied in February.

The price is based on standard constituents of 3.6% and 3.3% protein.

This price includes a base milk price of 35.58c/L, which is unchanged from the price for January.

The price also includes the Sustainability Action Payment of 0.5c/L for qualifying suppliers.

Finally, the latest milk price also includes the Seasonality Payment, which is set at 5c/L for February supplies that meet quality criteria. This is 2c/L lower than the Seasonality Payment for January milk, which was set at 7c/L.

The Seasonality Payment also applies to non-contracted supplies from Tirlán's autumn calving and liquid milk scheme members.

The Tirlán Seasonality Bonus is applied to milk volumes supplied in December, January and February.

The board of Tirlán has also confirmed the same rates of Seasonality Bonus payments will apply for the next three-month low supply period: 5c/L in December 2026; 7c/L in January 2027; and 5c/L in February 2027.

The processor said the latest base price, Seasonality Payment and Sustainability Action payment will be adjusted to reflect the actual constituents of milk delivered by suppliers.

The actual average price paid by Tirlán for February creamery milk, based on delivered constituents, will be 47.99c/L, the co-op said.

On January 20, the Tirlán Board said it intended to hold the milk price for January and February supplies, subject to any unforeseen events.

Announcing the latest milk price, Tirlán chairperson John Murphy commented: "We are pleased to be in a position to confirm our February milk price as announced two months ago.

"Farmers welcomed the certainty and support provided by a price commitment across the three-month period of December to February inclusive," Murphy added.

"The board will continue to monitor market developments on a monthly basis," the Tirlán chair said.

Change to VAT rate

This month’s milk payment from Tirlán is based on the reduced VAT Flat Rate Addition which applies for payments made after January 1, 2026.

In Budget 2026, the government reduced the VAT Flat Rate addition for non-VAT registered farmers from 5.1% to 4.5%.

Based on Tirlán’s VAT-inclusive milk price of 36.08cpl, the base milk price for January and February milk should be reduced by 0.21c/L to adjust for the reduction in the VAT rebate from the government.

The processor said it has decided to absorb this cost in the short-term, but confirmed that it will be reflected in milk pricing from March milk onwards.

Bluetongue

Tirlán has also called on its milk suppliers to consider vaccination against bluetongue virus.

Tirlán is encouraging milk suppliers to consult with their vet and explore the possibility of vaccinating against bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3).

Two doses are required, three weeks apart, to reduce the level of impact BTV-3 can have in herds.

With multiple strains now circulating in Europe, Tirlán is asking milk suppliers to consider targeting their breeding stock in the first instance to avoid poor pregnancy rates, late abortions, difficult calvings, calf mortality and milk drop.

Commenting on the bluetongue situation, Murphy said: "While bluetongue does not infect humans and does not pose a food safety risk from either meat or dairy, farm family suppliers should engage with their vet now and discuss the merit of vaccination.

"Vaccination is permitted under special license and while it doesn’t fully stop infection or disease, it greatly reduces virus load as well as sickness for infected animals.

“We encourage our suppliers to take action now to protect the herd during the highest risk period, which coincides with a high level of susceptibility and potential impact in spring calving herds," he said.