SDLP Agriculture spokesperson Joe Byrne has called
for radical reforms in the North’s milk-pricing system so as to alleviate the
desperation faced by local dairy farmers.
The West
Tyrone MLA said: “Northern Ireland milk farmers are in desperation because farm
gate milk prices are so low.
“For too
long the milk pricing system in Northern Ireland has been failing the farmer
insofar as the farm gate price is so low in comparison to the retail price paid
by the customer in the shop.
“After
the last six months of bad weather, rising feed costs and poor liquid milk
prices at the farm gate, many dairy farmers are at breaking point.
“The
campaign by dairy farmers and the lobby group ‘Farmers For Action’ must be
recognised by the Minister for Agriculture and DARD . Dairy farmers need to see
some improvement in primary producer prices immediately or else the current
situation becomes a full blown crisis.
“The
liquid milk auction system administered by United Dairies here in Northern
Ireland has consistently short changed local dairy farmers in recent years.
“The
reality is that milk processors and the large retailers are enjoying the
profits but dairy farmers aren’t even covering their current costs of
production.
“The time
has come for The DARD Minister to intervene and change the system in the
interests of the farmers and tackle the farm crisis in the dairy industry.”
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