Boycott threat after Teagasc testing pull-out

The State advisory service, Teagasc, has become embroiled in another row with farmers, after withdrawing from a scheme being set up by the IFA for independent testing of milk.

A decision by Teagasc at the Moorepark Research Centre in Co Cork not to provide facilities for testing milk from Munster farms has grounded farmers' plans to set up a comparison between independent butterfat and protein tests and those of the milk processors, at least temporarily.

When farmers at Limerick IFA's monthly meeting was told by Richard Kennedy of the IFA National Dairy Committee that Teagasc had pulled out from signing a testing agreement, they called for the immediate withdrawal of all farmer payments to the advisory service. But it was subsequently agreed that Teagasc be given a period of days to reconsider their position.

Teagasc stated afterwards that they could not go ahead because of a gap between sampling times. As a result, results of independent tests would not be comparable with processor's results.

Farmers remain determined to go ahead with monitoring of milk tests, and alternative testing services will be sought if Teagasc stand by their decision.

Richard Kennedy said, "Following a meeting with John Dillon, President of IFA and Michael Berkery, Chief Executive, IFA, it was agreed that the IFA would fund the training of a technician at Moorepark for taking samples on farms and carrying out 200 tests during August and September."

Mr Kennedy said that he was "absolutely stunned" when he arrived in Dublin for a meeting to set the scheme in motion and learned that Teagasc, Moorepark were not prepared to go ahead with testing milk.

"Teagasc had decided that they would train the technician but they would not get involved in testing the milk," said Mr Kennedy.

He said that farmers have called for greater transparency in milk testing for a long time. "I believe that IFA cannot continue to say that they support independent testing, unless they are prepared to do something about it. We were going to do something about it, and if the co-ops have nothing to hide and their process is above board, they should have nothing to worry about," he said.

Limerick County Chairman, Michael O'Flynn said farmers already had serious concern over the direction of Teagasc, following their input to the debate on the Nitrate Directive. It was agreed at the IFA meeting that IFA will organise the withholding of payments by farmers to Teagasc, unless they reverse their milk testing decision.