IFA anger at Dairygold response
He said its response had compounded supplier and shareholder frustration, following Dairygold’s hasty decision to close the profitable Galtee business at the end of October.
The IFA is calling an emergency meeting of pig suppliers and shareholders for Saturday at 4pm in the Firgrove Hotel in Mitchelstown to discuss Dairygold’s response to the current proposals.
IFA received an initial response from Dairygold chief executive Jerry Henchy last Thursday, which it said falls well short of supplier and shareholder expectations and previous commitments intimated by the farmer co-op.
The IFA said the response does not address shareholders’ concerns regarding a secure outlet for their weekly pig supply, nor does it give firm commitments that a competitive price would be paid to suppliers following the planned closure of the plant.
Mr O’Keeffe continued: “The 31st October deadline set by Dairygold is approaching, but I can assure you shareholders will not be bullied into moving their pig supply until such time as Dairygold take producer concerns seriously and come up with a full and acceptable response to these legitimate concerns.
Pig producers want to return to focusing on issues inside their farm gate but before this they must be sure they have a secure outlet and competitive price for their pigs and I want firm commitments from Dairygold on these issues as soon as possible,” Mr O’ Keeffe said.
