An analysis published by Teagasc and CIT claiming Irish dairy farmers are the most profitable in Europe is “flawed” in that it does not include the cost of the farmers’ own labour or land, according to the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
Commenting on the report, published earlier this week, IFA Dairy Committee chairman Tom Phelan warned of the danger of complacency setting in.
“This makes a mockery of the cost analysis. We all know that farmers and their families are putting more and more of their own time into their farms for the same return,” he said.
Continuing, Phelan claimed: “Improvements in milk fat and protein and quality have failed to return any price gains.
“Processors are using improvements in milk quality delivered by farmers to imply that they are paying a better price – this is not the case.
“There is a real danger that these figures will contribute to complacency by our processors who have been able to pay the lowest milk price in Europe because farmers are working harder and harder and getting better at what they are doing,” he said.
Are our processors working harder and getting better at what they are doing? We need to add value to our milk to increase margins so that farmers don’t have to keep getting bigger just to stand still from an income perspective.
The timing of the report’s publication drew this into sharp focus, the chairman said, highlighting that Glanbia “yet again failed to increase its milk price” earlier this week on Tuesday, November 10.
“Premium grass-fed dairy produce must command a premium price. It is time that farmers were properly compensated for their work and investment.
“This has to be reflected in an increased milk price for the remaining months of this year,” he said.
The IFA highlighted that, while average levels of debt of €64,868 on dairy farms are mentioned in the report, it stressed that 64% of dairy farms have an average debt of €112,000 according to the National Farm Survey 2019.
Let me be crystal clear on this; dairy farmers are under significant financial pressure and are working harder than they ever have before – this race to the bottom must stop.
“The industry cannot sit back in smug satisfaction at this report as it does not give the full picture,” the chairman concluded.