Higher prices for dairy farmers urged
That was IFA president John Dillon’s clear message to the national dairy summit in Portlaoise yesterday, when he also said it was time for farmers to assert their control of the industry.
“They must drive the change that is required by demanding that co-op boards and management work together to bring efficiencies beyond the boundaries of each co-op.
“The industry must strip costs to the minimum, cut out duplication and achieve economies of scale in milk collection, processing and marketing, as well as co-ordinating investment to generate higher market returns,” he said.
Major players in the industry attended the meeting at the invitation of Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh, who presided.
Mr Dillon said without urgent action, up to 10,000 dairy farmers could be forced out of business as their incomes are squeezed by the effects of CAP reform. The IFA would not allow this to happen.
It was putting the industry on notice that farmers must get higher milk prices.
Macra na Feirme president Thomas Honner called on Mr Walsh to reduce expansion costs.
The IFA national council has, meanwhile, decided that full decoupling in sheep, beef and grain is the best option.
