MULLER Wiseman has confirmed its standard milk price for February will remain unchanged at 25.90 pence per litre for its Milk Group members who are not aligned to supermarkets, who have their own pricing arrangements.

Carl Ravenhall, managing director, said: "We recognise this is a tough time for dairy farmers and we are doing everything we can to maintain a leading milk price, whilst retaining our ability to compete, particularly against processors and farmer owned co-operatives who reduce their milk price with little notice."

However, he added: "Given the further weakening of the value of dairy commodities and the continuing global supply and demand outlook we are unable to rule out further milk price adjustments to reflect the poor returns from cream and butter products and the need for us to remain competitive in a UK and international context."

Roddy Catto, chairman of the Muller Wiseman Milk Group, which represents 1,200 supplying dairy farmers, said the unchanged price was "good news and reflective of Muller's intention to do what it can against a backdrop of falling milk prices in the UK and around the world, to ensure that MWMG farmers are receiving a standard milk price which is significantly ahead of many others available in the UK."

Dairy Crest has announced a February 1 cut of 1.2ppl for farmers on its standard liquid and Davidstow contracts – to 24.59ppl and 26.59ppl respectively. First Milk also recently announced its manufacturing pool price will be cut by 2.43ppl to 20.47ppl from February 1 and its liquid price by 1.6ppl to 20.1ppl.