The IFA is calling on local authorities to co-ordinate their actions with co-ops to prioritise the clearing of roads leading to dairy farms.

The association’s president Joe Healy has written to Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and the National Emergency Response Group regarding the urgent situation facing a rapidly rising number of dairy farmers whose milk cannot be collected.

Farmers in counties Meath and Kilkenny have been highlighting the problems they face on-farm:

Joe Healy said some farmers have filled their tanks and will have to dispose of milk if it is not collected urgently.

“This is obviously seriously problematic from a food wastage point of view and would cause a massive economic loss to the farmers concerned.

"If it continues it could also affect the availability of fresh milk on supermarket shelves,” Healy warned.

Milk shortages

Earlier this week, the ICMSA said it did not envisage milk shortages in shops.

“There will be more-than-sufficient stocks held at co-ops and processors even if collections from farms are knocked out for a couple of days,” said ICMSA deputy president Lorcan McCabe.

“We don’t see that being a problem in the circumstances that are being predicted as of now, but it does show the value of having good-quality milk available locally.”

Latest on milk collections

Glanbia

A spokesman for Glanbia said conditions remain very difficult in many areas on Saturday morning but Glanbia milk collection will resume in areas where it is safe to do so.

“However, some areas will be impossible to access for some time unless Mother Nature obliges,” he said.

“Farmers are encouraged to continue their great work in gritting yards and clearing roadways to facilitate access,” he said, adding that safety should remain the number one priority.

“There is a large backlog of milk on farms so patience will be required. Progress will be slow as tanks are full.

“Huge thanks to hauliers for great effort to collect as much milk as possible ahead of the storm.”

Dairygold

Dairygold said it hoped to recommence milk collections and feed deliveries on Saturday, where possible.

“As we endeavour to clear the backlog, we would ask our members to please ensure routes are clear for safe and efficient entry and exit,” the co-op said.

LacPatrick

LacPatrick praised the trojan effort by farmers and hauliers to get milk collected this week.

“We're still not back to normality and collections are being focused on a case-by-case basis. Thanks to the farmers who have kept yards and lanes cleared,” it said.

Kerry

Kerry Agribusiness milk trucks collected up to 2pm on Thursday and intended to resume milk collection from daybreak on Saturday morning.

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