The IFA has called on milk processors to increase August milk prices by 1c/l in order to help dairy farmers who are struggling due to weather extremes.

“Teagasc last week revealed that dairy farmers would spend an average of 75% more on feed in 2018 – this is cash many simply do not have.

''Our committee reps testified to the financial and mental pressures suffered by farm families trying to keep cows fed while dealing with the family and back-to-school/college demands on their cashflow,” IFA national dairy committee chair Tom Phelan said.

Frustration

The IFA dairy committee held its meeting on Tuesday this week and representatives from all around the country were vocal and frustrated, Phelan said.

He said the national dairy committee voiced the following demands to co-op boards, which will be meeting in coming days to decide on milk prices:

1 Roll all top-ups/bonuses back into the base milk price.

2 Return to farmers the true value of improved dairy prices – we believe that is at least 1c/l on August milk.

3 Commit to continuing to return any further improvements in the coming months to help farmers pay the fodder without which co-ops will not get the milk volumes they have budgeted on.

4 Over the coming months, eliminate the unsustainable gaps which co-ops have allowed to develop between their milk prices.

Fodder crisis

“The committee recognises the efforts made by co-ops to support farmers through the near 12-month fodder crisis.

''However, the financial and mental pressures on many farmers demand higher milk prices to help them buy the fodder and feed they will need to sustain autumn supplies. Markets justify higher prices, and co-ops must deliver them without delay,” Phelan concluded.

Arla, the Danish farmer-owned dairy co-op, has announced it will pay all of the profits it makes in 2018 to its co-op members in a bid to support farmers after a difficult year.

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