This article is from page 10 of the 2006-11-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE plummeting price of milk is forcing Clare farmers off the land according to the Chairperson of ICMSA’s Beef and Cattle Committee, Clare farmer Martin McMahon.
Speaking at last Friday’s ICMSA Clare AGM in Feakle, Mr McMahon called on the co-ops to stop putting more and more pressure on farmers.
“The Co-ops cant keep squeezing the farmers every time they come under pressure themselves,” said McMahon.
“The price of milk is a big issue for farmers in Clare. It now looks likely that Kerry Co-op will drop the price of milk by 6 cent per gallon in the new year. The cost of producing milk continues to go up and the farmers just can’t cope with it.”
McMahon has also pointed to the new milk quota scheme as a source of concern for Clare farmers.
“Farmers don’t know what is going to happen. The first round of transaction is due to take place before the end of November and it doesn’t look like there will be too many transactions taking place,” continued Mr McMahon.
“They are just too unsure of what will happen. Sellers need to know what the price is going to be and so do the buyers.”
Other topics discussed at the meeting included the current state of the beef trade, the nitrates situation, the partnership talks and the possible extension of BSE testing from 30 to 36 months.