COMMENT: Rising input costs for dairy farmers must be tackled

MILK processors and politicians can no longer ignore input inflation The decision of milk processors to hold milk price at 37.5-38c per litre for July milk is extremely disappointing and unconnected to the market realities — in particular the Irish Dairy Board price index, which is a direct reflection of the return received by Irish milk processors.

This decision needs to be considered in the light of ongoing input price inflation and the massive financial pressures on farmers over the last year.

If the IDB Index is adjusted upwards in the next announcement — as is widely expected — then the decision not to increase milk price will look even more questionable than it does now. People seem to have forgotten that only three months ago dairy farmers — like other farmers — were in the middle of an unprecedented fodder crisis.