Anger over profits kept by co-ops

DISTRUST between dairy farmers and their co-ops has widened with the acceptance by IFA leader John Dillon of a report, compiled by three Munster farmers, which indicates that co-ops retained 15p (19c) per gallon from their profits in 2001.

Mr Dillon said the farmers' findings are undisputed by the industry and they explode the myth that co-ops have "carried" milk prices, with support of 5p (6.5c) per gallon. The findings will play a major part in IFA's rejection of the 2p (2.5c) per gallon price cut by the farmer-controlled Dairygold Co-op, which would take 1,500 out of each supplier's pockets, in per year terms, according to IFA. "Dairy farmers cannot cope with increased costs and falling prices," warned Mr Dillon in his rejection of the Dairygold price move.

The farmers who carried out the milk price investigation are Denis Buttimer, Lissarda, Co Cork; John McNamara, Kilmallock, Co Limerick and David Thompson, Cappamore, Co Limerick.