IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Sean O’Leary has warned co-ops that milk price will be the main consideration for over 5,000 dairy farmers, when they make the final decision on cutting milk production by more than 72m litres over the October to January period.

ICOS has called for structures to allow farmers and co-ops deal with “cruel” milk price cycles, as sinking butter and skim milk powder markets across Europe pointed to milk prices of just over 21.5c per litre.