Farmers call co-op group a ‘toothless talking shop’

THE co-ops’ umbrella body, ICOS, has been described as a “toothless talking shop” at the European Dairy Farmers Congress in Cork.

Leading dairy farmers Michael Murphy from Cork and Mike Magan from Longford, levelled the charge in a joint critique of the Irish dairy industry.

Mr Murphy, who has experience of farming not only in Ireland but also in New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and the US, warned dairy companies would go bust in Ireland within the next 12 to 18 months.