IFA calls on co-ops to support their farmers to help overcome problems

Bad weather, price cuts, and fodder shortages have all combined to shatter confidence among the farming community, according to the IFA.

IFA National Dairy Committee chairman Kevin Kiersey believes farmers’ confidence had taken a major hit in recent months as price cuts have combined with weather-related fodder shortages, low constituents, and fast-rising input costs to squeeze margins.

Speaking in Kells at the first in a series of IFA regional dairy meetings titled “Dairy 2020 — Focus on Confident Growth”, Mr Kiersey urged co-ops to call an end to price cuts and provide exceptional support for hard pressed farmers whose margins were, according to Teagasc, set to fall by at least 30% this year.