The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) Grain Committee met the chairman and the vice chairs of Glanbia this week to convey the anger among growers about the Glanbia 2019 grain base price, according to the organisation.
IFA Grain Committee chairman Mark Browne said that the delegation also met to seek a “significant uplift in the base price quoted”.
“The full IFA Grain Committee met on Wednesday, October 2, and members were clear that, come what may, there must be a significant move by Glanbia,” he said.
Other buyers of grain have stepped up with a stronger price – it is inexplicable that Glanbia is lagging behind. We recognise that grain markets are challenging, but there is scope to place a higher value on Irish grain.
The chairman added that growers are under severe pressure operating below the cost of production.
“The industry has to decide if it wants to support local growers or watch them go to the wall,” he said.
“According to official Teagasc figures, even with decent grain yields this season, these base prices will leave tillage farmers operating below the cost of production.”
Browne added that, while Glanbia is a major buyer of Irish grain, it is “unacceptable to pay an unsustainable price for native quality assured grain”.
Apart from drought hit 2018, five of the last six years have seen grain prices which have been either below or just at the cost of production.
“This has been reflected in the 20% decline in tillage acreage since 2012,” he said.
“Glanbia and others cannot ignore the strategic importance of the tillage sector to the broader agricultural industry and the critical role native grains play in relation to Ireland’s food provenance credentials,” the chairman concluded.