First Milk holds March milk price for most suppliers

First Milk has held its March A litre milk price for all but one of its supplier pools, holding prices between 26.09p/litre and 28.23p/litre.

Only suppliers of the Midlands & East Wales pool will see a price rise of 0.2p/litre, taking A prices to 26.25p/litre.

The First Milk B price will also be held at 25p/litre.

See also: UK milk price close to bottom of EU15 countries

This hold is the co-op’s first, following eight consecutive increases since July, which saw prices rise by 68.8% across the period.

“Following eight consecutive milk price rises that have cumulatively delivered about 11p/litre to our members’ milk price, returns have stabilised over the past month,” said chairman Clive Sharp.

“Our milk price index shows our prices are now more competitive than at any point in past, as a result of First Milk being a leaner, more focused business.

“Prices for all pools will be held from 1 March, the only exception being the Midlands and East Wales pool, where farmers will receive a 0.2p/litre milk price rise as a result of returns from our basket mechanisms.”