The west Cork co-ops are once again the sole occupiers of division one, despite holding milk price for August.

The base price for all four of the co-ops actually increased by 11.8c/kg MS, but they also opted to reduce the payment from the stability fund by the same amount, keeping milk price where it was in July.

A small adjustment was made to year-to-date cumulative payments for both Bandon and Barryroe this month, to account for a slight mistake made in last month’s league.

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The SCC payment for both co-ops was counted on a c/l value in July, despite the co-ops having made the switch to paying on €/kg MS basis. The change is small, with just under €21 added to the cumulative payment.

Boherbue remains top of division two this month, as it lifted base price by 5.3c/kg MS.

Kinisla is next in division two after increasing base price by 6.7c/kg MS. Aurivo, which held milk price in July, has increased for August with a lift of 7c/kg MS. Despite the lift, it has however fallen behind Kinisla in the cumulative rankings.

Dairygold has now moved ahead of Tirlán and Centenary with an increase of 6.7c/kg MS. Tirlán is one of the big talking points this month, after announcing a milk price floor for the remainder of the year. The decision hasn’t been overly well received by some.

The argument is a floor price when markets are falling, as they had been in late 2025 and early 2026, is a good thing, as it may offer farmers some certainty. A price floor when markets have been improving zaps a bit of confidence.

The move to fix price for the rest of the year also coincides with a decision not to increase August milk prices; something of a tactical diversion perhaps?

Lakeland increased base price by 7.9c/kg MS for August, but remains off the pace of the other big co-ops – in 11th place in the cumulative rankings.

North Cork has broken out of division three this month, albeit by a very small margin. It paid the biggest increase of co-ops for August supplies. Ironically, it is North Cork suppliers who are the beneficiaries of the Carbery base price increase.

Meanwhile, the honeymoon is over for ArraTipp as it’s back at the bottom for autumn. A familiar place for the old Tipperary Co-op suppliers.