Cereal growers warn margins to fall

THE country’s cereal growers warned yesterday that their margins this year will fall by up to €240 an acre.

Irish Farmers’ Association Grain Committee chairman Colum McDonnell blamed dramatically increased fuel and input costs and falling grain prices.

“While EU and international grain prices have slipped in recent days, the situation for Irish growers has been aggravated by the fact that a number of the key traders and merchants have colluded to drag grain prices below market value,” he said.