Dairy Farmers Need Higher Milk Prices To Fund Fodder Purchases

Speaking after the IFA National Dairy Committee meeting, Chairman Tom Phelan said representatives from all around the country were vocal and frustrated: dairy farmers’ backs are to the wall, and only higher milk prices – starting with 1c/l for August milk – will help with the massive expenditure increase on fodder and feed necessary to keep the […]

Dairy Farmers Will Continue To Need Co-Op Support – IFA

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has said farmers appreciate the efforts made by the majority of co-ops this month to hold the March pay-out, though co-ops in many cases made significant cuts to the base price.   He said that poor production conditions continue, with fodder remaining scarce, and grazing still patchy as […]

IFA Warns Co-ops: Don’t Kick Farmers While They’re Down

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has warned co-ops that they must not kick farmers while they’re down by cutting milk prices, but must instead utilise some of the strongly increased 2017 profits to show their understanding of the extreme hardship and stress levels on farms in the only way that will count for […]

Stressed Out Farmers Will Interpret Any March Milk Price Cut As Further Kick In The Teeth – IFA

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has warned co-ops that they must show their understanding of the extreme hardship and stress levels on farms in the only way that will count for dairy farmers – by holding the March milk price.   Farmers appreciate the support co-ops have given through various fodder initiatives. However, […]

Co-ops Must Be Ready To Invest In Farmers’ Economic Sustainablility When Setting March Milk Prices – IFA

“The milk price decisions some co-ops took for February milk have shown just how out of touch they are with the massive challenges to their economic sustainability suppliers have been experiencing for the last number of months,” IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has said. He said it is at least as important for […]

Co-Ops Have Better Understanding Of Pressures On Farmers – IFA

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has said differences between the milk price cuts announced by milk purchasers so far, from 1c/l from Lakeland to a massive 3c/l from Glanbia, show differences in the appreciation the co-ops have of the very real pressures a long winter, late spring and the most severe snow storm […]

Farmers Want Responsible Management Of Intervention Stock And Buy-In – IFA

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Tom Phelan has taken issue with EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan’s statement warning farmers not to expect the EU would “bail them out” if milk prices drop.   Farmers do not want a bail out, Mr Phelan said, they want the EU Commission to live up to its responsibilities on […]

IFA Shouts Stop To Further Milk Price Cuts

At a meeting of the IFA National Dairy Committee this week, dairy farm leaders from all over the country called for an immediate stop to any further milk price cuts, in the face of severe cash flow challenges on farms. The Committee members will contact co-op board members accordingly in the coming days, as boards […]