Why milk producers favour the co-op route

I REFER to Brian O’Mahony’s recent articles in the Irish Examiner on the Fresh Milk Producers’ (FMP) proposal to take Glanbia plc private.

Glanbia plc have been making a poor attempt to portray their milk price in a favourable light by comparing it with the prices paid by certain other processors. The fact is Glanbia plc continues to languish well below the best payers and we make no apologies for benchmarking them against these processors. I welcome Brian O'Mahony's appreciation of the "inherent conflict between the milk suppliers and the company," and the fact that Glanbia plc's profit performance hinges on milk price.

With CAP reform and the WTO bearing down on us, future viability through maximising value added from the marketplace back to farmers is of paramount importance. Our proposal is clearly fundable, contrary to some views expressed in the articles and Glanbia board members have accepted this on a number of occasions.