Kerry disregarding share of its farmer-suppliers
The milk price for September milk announced by Lakeland Dairies illustrates a commitment towards the farmer-suppliers of the processor that appears to absent from a number of others, notably Kerry Group and Glanbia which opted not to bump up their prices for the month, the Chairman of the Dairy Committee at the ICMSA, Gerald Quain said. Lakeland upped its price to €0.1.22 for September milk.
With the rise in global markets which extends almost across the plateau of dairy products in the current year, the two big companies are now lagging farther back in terms of passing on the increased returns to the suppliers. Although the markets have dropped back a bit in recent weeks, that lag has still not been made up at Kerry and Glanbia.
Need to review proposed slurry inspections
The Chairman of the IFA Environment Committee Thomas Cooney has reacted with some concern at the announcement of a new regime on slurry spreading and other means of manure management on farms during the winter months.
Farmers have to deal with all aspects of collecting and storing the product as well as distributing it on the land in an efficient manner and additional inspections and the threat of further penalties will not help a particular group that has had to come through some very difficult times in recent years with poor weather and low incomes.