'Green shoots' amid 'horrendous year' for Limerick dairy farmers

THE ICMSA say that while green shoots of grass were in short supply on farms across the country this summer, it has certainly been a different case on milk markets.

Noel Murphy, chair of the ICMSA’s Dairy Committee, said there has been a “staggering” 13cpl difference in milk price paid to farmers for the first six months of 2026 compared to 2025, “essentially wiping out all farmer profits”.

He said that was even before the increased costs associated with drought and the conflict in the Persian Gulf were factored into considerations. Mr Murphy said that 2026 has been a horrendous year for dairy farming.

“ICMSA is a careful and prudent observer of international dairy markets, but we do see ‘green shoots of recovery’ already on milk spot markets.

“Starting from the low point in January when we saw prices in the of low thirties for spot prices on Dutch Dairy Quotations, prices have increased around 10 cents to present with a notable ‘rollercoaster’ period between March and June before finally showing only a positive trend since June to now,” said Mr Murphy.

Those last three months have seen WMP increase by 8cpl and industry standard Butter/SMP mix increase by 4cpl, he said.

“ICMSA believes that there is room for at least a 2cpl increase for August milk given these figures and the strong trend that’s there. We think it’s there for the co-ops to pay the farmers and it absolutely must be paid.

“Bills are piling up on dairy farms, and they need a confidence-boost after what has been a very difficult period. The prices, trends and sentiment are only pointing in an upward trajectory and co-ops and milk purchasers need to acknowledge and recognise this by increasing August milk prices.

“The increase is there in the marketplace, and it needs to be sent back to the farmer-suppliers immediately”, said Mr Murphy.