Milk price cuts to cost farmers €3,000 a year

THE average dairy farmer will lose over than €3,000 a year as a result of decisions taken by Glanbia and Lakeland Dairies to cut the price paid to suppliers for manufacturing milk, the Irish Farmers Association claimed yesterday.

Glanbia plc’s board decided on a reduction of 3 cent a gallon for April and a further 3 cent a gallon for May, while Lakeland Dairies decided on a price cut of 6c a gallon for March.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) said it was bitterly disappointed at the decisions which will see Glanbia suppliers’ incomes fall by up to 16% a year and those of Lakeland by 19%.