Call for co-ops to increase milk price

DAIRY co-ops must look at increasing the price of milk paid to farmers, Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association president Jackie Cahill has insisted.

He was welcoming a decision by the Irish Dairy Board to increase the price of skimmed milk powder by €100/tonne from January 1 and to make a retrospective payment of €50/tonne on butter and €100/tonne on skimmed milk powder produced in December 2006.

Mr Cahill said the decision is yet another clear indication of improving dairy markets. The increase in returns to co-ops is enhanced by the improved bonus paid to them by the IDB.