Farm leader in plea on milk prices

The talking down of the milk price has no basis in reality and should stop, ICMSA leader Pat O’Rourke said yesterday when he urged dairy co-ops to at least maintain milk prices for the remainder of this year.

He said it was encouraging to see milk prices in the United States extremely strong. The latest reports are that on average it will be 30% higher in US dollar terms than in 2003.

Irish dairy farmers have the expectation of increased prices. The challenge to co-op management is to pass on to farmers the improving market returns given the huge cost saving programmes they have introduced, he said.