IFA seeks milk price to year end

IFA dairy chairman Sean O’Leary has called upon dairy co-ops to commit their milk price to year end.

While noting the Kerry decision to hold its price, he said suppliers to Glanbia and Lakeland would get 1c/l less for June milk versus May, as the May payout included a one-off Ornua 1c/l bonus from Ornua’s sale of DPI in the US.

The IFA has written to co-ops, urging them to commit to hold payouts to year end.

“The average milk price last year was 19.4% down on the previous year, with a differential of 3.31c/l between top and bottom,” said Mr O’Leary.

“Farmers are now receiving unsustainable milk prices which fall well below production costs, and they are being starved of cashflow.”