Enda Kenny has described 2015 as “the year of rural recovery for Ireland” because of the imminent removal of the “straitjacket” of milk quotas and the development of initiatives such as a major new dairy processing plant officially opened yesterday by Glanbia Ingredients.

Siobhan Talbot is set to succeed John Moloney as group managing director of Glanbia, at the end of this year — becoming the first woman to head up a major Irish food company.

Motorists are asked to be patient this weekend as agri co-op trucks deliver urgently needed hay and other animal feed to farms nationwide.

After an anxious wait there was jubilation when the chairman of Glanbia, Liam Herlihy, announced that 83% of shareholders in Glanbia Co-op had voted to ratify their earlier decision to dispose of 10% of its holding in Glanbia plc.

Glanbia dairy farmers took one step closer to securing a €163m windfall after 81.8% of voters accepted to spin out and sell shares, but another crucial vote remains before the co-op shareholders can cash in.

Farmer groups are guiding members who are Glanbia shareholders to vote ‘yes’ in next Wednesday’s joint venture vote in Gowran Park Racecourse, Co Kilkenny.

Members of Glanbia Co-op are debating the pros and cons of a joint venture proposal which could see them acquire a 60% stake in Dairy Ingredients Ireland, the Glanbia group’s Irish dairy processing business.

Glanbia has reached initial agreement with its majority shareholder — Glanbia Co-operative Society — regarding the future ownership of its dairy ingredients processing unit.

Crucial vote meetings loom later this year for Glanbia Co-op Society’s 7,768 members with voting rights.

Glanbia co-op members could be in line for a €122m windfall if they agree to take a 60% stake in a joint venture with the Glanbia plc.

GLANBIA, the international nutritionals-to-cheese group, said the growth of 2010 has been sustained into this year and it is sticking to its earlier adjusted earnings per share forecast of 11%-13% for the year on a constant currency basis.

KILDARE tillage farmer Laurence Flood won the overall Grain Grower prize at yesterday’s Glanbia Quality Awards in Kilkenny.

A POSTMORTEM on the failed €343 million proposed buyout of the Irish interests of Glanbia plc by the co-op has started.

Food and ingredients group Glanbia today told shareholders at its AGM in Kilkenny that it was having a "strong" first half.

A PROPOSED €343m buyout of the Irish interests of Glanbia plc, its largest shareholder, by Glanbia Co-operative Society was narrowly rejected at a special general meeting yesterday.

FARMER shareholders of Glanbia Co-op will vote today on the proposed €340 million buyout of the Irish dairy business from the Plc in which it holds over 54% of the equity.

GLANBIA Plc shares fell 5% yesterday after a poll indicated the proposed sale of its Irish dairy business to Glanbia Co-op may not have majority support from farmers.

GLANBIA Plc chairman Liam Herlihy said there is “no plan B, nor can there be” regarding the sale of its Irish dairy business to Glanbia Co-op which controls over 54% of the public company.

CATCHING up with spring work has kept many farmers away from more than 20 information meetings ahead of the vote in May, where 8,000 shareholders will say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the purchase of Glanbia’s Irish dairy business for about €343m.

GLANBIA co-op members have been urged to engage fully in the decision-making process on the society’s buy-out offer for Glanbia’s plc’s Irish dairy and agri business.

GLANBIA Co-op, which owns 54% of Glanbia plc, has announced its plan to buy the Irish dairy and agri businesses of the plc.

GLANBIA has told its suppliers it is facing 2010 with cautious optimism, stemming from signs of market recovery.

PRESSURE has increased on Glanbia to increase the price it pays suppliers for milk as the global dairy markets begin to recover.

DAIRYGOLD Co-op is to increase the price it pays its suppliers for September milk by 1.75c/litre.

GLANBIA, the €2.2 billion turnover global food group, was urged yesterday to set up a multi-million-euro reserve fund to support milk producers in difficult times.

GLANBIA has announced a three cent per litre reduction in the price it will pay suppliers for manufacturing milk in September.

GLANBIA plc has announced a three cent per litre reduction in the September manufacturing milk price.

BEING taken to watch Waterford play Kilkenny in the All-Ireland hurling final of 1963 was a dream come true for a seven-year-old boy from Cappoquin.

GLANBIA, following a meeting of its plc and co-op boards, has moved to support milk suppliers facing increased costs.

GLANBIA milk suppliers want the company to pay the top milk price in the country and reverse a 1.5c a litre price cut.

FOOD company Glanbia is shutting down part of its Waterford plant with the loss of 35 jobs.

GLANBIA dairy farmers have called on their co-op, at a meeting in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, to pay the top price for milk supplies.

GLANBIA’s decision to cut its milk price by 1.5c/l in May, and by another 1.5c/l in June, was described by the IFA yesterday as an abuse of the group’s position as the largest milk purchaser and an unacceptable pre-judgement of markets at a time when trends are actually positive.

The board of Glanbia has today elected Liam Herlihy as chairman of the company.

THE lovely Roses of Tralee didn’t even come close to the pampering that went on in Virginia, Co Cavan, yesterday.