MAJOR dairy co-operative First Milk this week announced a farmgate milk price increase for August.

The owners of the Lake District Creamery at Aspatria, announced that from August 1, 2024, its member milk price will increase by 0.7ppl to 41.0ppl for its manufacturing standard litre, including the member premium.

Commenting on the announcement, Mike Smith, Vice Chairman and Farmer Director, said: “There has been recent positive momentum in global dairy market prices driven by sentiment, which now appears to have stabilised.

“Many of our members continue to face challenging on-farm conditions, with unpredictable weather continuing to impact forage availability both now and potentially for the upcoming winter. As a result, we are pleased to announce this increase to our milk price at this time.”

First Milk are supplied by around 250 Cumbrian farmers. They are a dairy cooperative in Britain which manufactures cheese, specialist dairy ingredients and whey proteins for its customers, as well as providing traceable fresh milk to a range of dairy manufacturers and food processors.