Co-ops urged to hike farmers’ prices

FARM leaders yesterday called on all co-ops to increase the price they pay farmers for milk as a result of continuing buoyant market returns.

IFA president Padraig Walshe said the price paid by milk processors is out of line with advances in the market returns.

These returns have increased by 9.6c/l (44c/gal) since last July, while most co-ops have only lifted producer prices by 1.3c/l (6c/gal).