Paula Hynes: Milk price war is nothing more than a two-fingered salute to Irish dairy farmers

Just like the cost of filling a shopping trolley has risen, the cost of running farms has dramatically risen

Energy prices are crucifying dairy farms, milking cows and cooling milk uses a lot of electricity.

As European dairy markets continue in free fall, farm gate milk prices continue to drop in Ireland, and recently, the supermarkets entered into what is being called a price war on milk. 

I am all too aware of the cost of living and food inflation. In the supermarkets meat rose by 11.2% in 12 months while dairy increased by 13.5% but so too has most other groceries risen in price, coffee increased by over 10% while chocolate has risen by 14%, going forward beef prices in supermarkets are set to remain high and possibly for the next three years as a global shortage of beef remains on the horizon.