The €30 million support package that Tirlán Co-operative is planning to provide will help milk providers who are facing difficulties as a result of the extended period of above-average rainfall.

John Murphy, the chairperson of Tirlán, stated that the cooperative is well aware of the difficulties facing its agricultural suppliers at the moment.

“The exceptional rainfall affecting farmers in our catchment area is causing significant physical, financial and mental stress,” he said.

“A key role of a farm-family owned Co-op is to support Members when challenges arise. The Board believes that it is appropriate for the Co-op to now utilise some of our resources to support our Members.”

A 3c/L weather payment is included in the support for all March milk volumes. Additionally, this payment will be given for the Fixed Milk Price Scheme, Autumn Calving, and Liquid Milk.

The present Weather Support Payment of €30 per tonne for GAIN animal feed products will be extended until April 27. The initial offer of this assistance to milk suppliers was made on March 15 and was scheduled to expire on April 13.

The percentage of milk paid as an early interim payment for April milk paid in May will increase from 50% to 60%.

The Fertilizer Credit Scheme, which offers interest-free credit for fertilizer purchases, has been extended for farmers until the end of May. Normally, this program expires in March.

A Tirlán Advance Payment Plan will be implemented, providing milk providers with cash flow support. Based on March milk volumes, the Advance Payment Scheme is a voluntary program that gives milk suppliers a 5c/L advance on future milk payments.

An average milk supplier will get about €3,000 in interest-free cashflow help from the Advance Payment, which will be made to their trading accounts. The Advance Payment will be deducted from the real milk payments that will be due during the peak months of May, June, and July of 2025.