FARMERS DEMONSTRATED OUTSIDE supermarkets today protesting the low cost of milk.
Liquid milk producers were led in a protest by IFA president Joe Healy outside Dunnes Stores and Aldi in Portlaoise.
Farmers were airing their concerns about the low cost of milk at the supermarkets.
Dunnes Stores sell milk at 67c a litre and the IFA said that Aldi is also selling milk at low costs.
“There is no such thing as cheap milk. Fresh milk producers incur high costs and legitimately expect to be able to cover their costs and make a reasonable income from their specialist milk production,” Healy said today.
He said that farmers came out the worst when prices were brought down too low.
“Any apparent benefit for consumers is short-lived, with the security of year-round, local supplies of milk from freshly calved cows being threatened by the erosion of margins in the chain,” Healy said.
The IFA said it had met with most dairies and retailers to discuss its Milk Wise 2025 strategy which it said protects the sustainability of fresh milk production in the country.
“I call upon Dunnes Stores, Aldi and all retailers in Ireland to desist immediately from the race to the bottom on retail milk prices,” said chairman of the IFA’s National Liquid Milk Committee John Finn.
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