Farm organisations criticise 'wholly disproportionate' milk price cuts which will wipe €1,500 off cheques

The ICMSA said: 'We’d like to draw attention to the very obvious discrepancy that has the co-ops telling farmers that they’re ‘locked-in’ to forward prices when farmers point to a rising market, while often the very same co-ops seem to be able to opt out very easily of the ‘forward price straitjacket’ in a falling market.'

Dairygold Board reduced its August Quoted milk price by 3cpl to 45cpl, while Tirlan announced a 2.5cpl drop for August milk. File photo

Cuts to milk prices will slash around €1,500 off the average supplier's milk cheque, according to analysis from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

Farm organisations accused Tirlán and Dairygold of slashing prices too quickly after international dairy commodity markets tumbled.