Farmers want more for milk
Stressing that processors have a responsibility to pay a competitive milk price, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association said this will require a complete freeze on any wage cost.
The Irish Farmers Association called for major rationalisation and cost cutting by the dairy industry to avoid unviable milk prices.
Last week, Glanbia decided on a reduction of 3 cent per gallon for April and a further 3c per gallon for May, while Lakeland Dairies decided on a price cut of 6c per gallon for March. Reductions in EU supports and market returns were given as the main reasons.
At a meeting in Portlaoise yesterday, ICMSA officers demanded both groups bring about savings and pass on a higher milk price to farmers. President Jackie Cahill said farmers would no longer put up with a situation where they were expected to take whatever was left over after management, employees and the banks had all increased their take from the value of the milk supplied by farmers.
Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan was accused at the meeting of being pre-occupied with increasing the price of milk quota while ignoring milk price.
IFA president Padraig Walshe, speaking in Cavan said the milk price cuts by Lakeland and Glanbia had rocked the confidence of dairy farmers. He urged the Irish Dairy Board to provide €25m for marketing and promotion initiatives.
He called for a one-off IDA-capital investment programme for new technology and rationalisation in the processing sector.
