ICMSA seeks payments to farmers

THE Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association is to formally ask the Irish Dairy Board to make direct payments to farmers from its reserves in an effort to ease their current income plight.

Jackie Cahill, president, and an IDB board member, said yesterday the average cut this year in the milk price paid to farmers, excluding Glanbia, has been the equivalent of 6c per gallon.

“I believe it is entirely correct for the farmer owners of the IDB to call upon the board’s reserves at a time of severe income squeeze,” he said.