Farmers plan to pay for milk testing as talks fail
But about 40 Munster dairy farmers plan to pay for their own testing, after inconclusive talks with Kerry Co-op and Dairygold Co-op.
Richard Kennedy, Chairman, Limerick IFA Dairy Committee, and a member of the National IFA Dairy Committee, says they will have their milk supply independently tested, and will compare the co-op and independent test results.
He said Kerry and Dairygold have indicated their willingness to co-operate by providing split samples to facilitate independent testing. “At our meeting with Kerry, we were told that independent testing is not an issue, and there is no demand from farmers for it.”
Mr Kennedy said he was very concerned that there could be intimidation of any farmer who made an issue of independent milk testing, He said farmer members of co-op advisory committee and boards are not serving the interests of the farmers they represent if they refrain from raising the issue of independent milk testing.
“From an economic point of view it is illogical to have over 20 labs around the country testing milk when it could all be done in one of two labs and cut out some of the costs involved“, he added.
