Lakeland Dairies processed a record 2.14 billion litres of milk supplied by over 3,000 farm families across 17 counties - north and south - last year, latest figures show.

The Co. Cavan-headquartered co-op today (Wednesday, April 15) published its 2025 annual report which highlighted a 10% jump in turnover to €1.93 billion for 2025.

The 10% jump in revenue growth was chiefly driven by higher milk volumes.

This in turn according to Lakeland Dairies resulted in milk payments to its 3,000 farm families totalling €1.05 billion in 2025.

But which county received the biggest share of milk payments from the co-op last year?

According to its latest annual report, there was one clear leader: Co. Down.

Dairy farmers in Co. Down received a total of €166.8 million in 2025 in milk payments from Lakeland Dairies.

Coming in second place in Lakeland Dairies milk payments table was Co. Tyrone, where dairy farmers received a total €134.0 million.

Meanwhile dairy farmers in Co. Dublin were at the bottom of the co-op's 2025 milk payments table as they received a total of €2.2 million.

According to Lakeland Dairies’ chair, Niall Matthews, the exceptional surge in global milk production during the latter half of 2025 meant that the year had "been one of contrasts" for everyone in the sector.

"Favourable weather, strong grass growth and solid milk prices supported excellent production conditions early in the year, and while input costs remained relatively high, farm families received stable returns," Matthews said.

But he said this picture was not repeated in the second half of 2025.

"The significant shift in market conditions in the second half was again not unique to Ireland.

"Prices fell more quickly than anticipated, creating understandable concern about the outlook for the year ahead," the Lakeland Dairies’ chair added.

Matthews has warned that while there are early signs that marketsmay be stabilising "a period of adjustment will be needed before supply and demand find a more sustainable balance".