The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that any solution to the current dispute between the knackeries and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine "better not involve higher charges on farmers".

Last weekend, the Animal Collectors' Association (ACA) announced a nationwide reduction in services after a "deadlock" in negotiations for a new Fallen Animal Scheme.

Its members began a work-to-rule action and reduction of services this week.

ACA members are not preparing and presenting fallen sheep to department vets for sampling for the disease scrapie.

Commenting on the dispute between the department and the knackery service providers, the deputy president of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, insisted that the solution to this dispute must come from within the department’s own funds.

He commented that both parties to the dispute "must put right out of their minds any idea" that additional charges be imposed on farmers.

"As farmers we understand the cost pressures facing the knackery service providers," he said.

"Farmers are experiencing the exact same pressures - and more - and a solution to this dispute that proceeds from the idea that farmers will pay higher charges is just totally unacceptable," Carroll added.

He said that farmers input costs have increased substantially in 2026.

According to Carroll, farmer incomes are already down substantially "even without imposing additional charges on farmers".

The ICMSA said that the knackery service is set down in legislation and farmers "have no alternative but to use it".

He added that the Fallen Animal Scheme is managed by the department, and that the solution must come from within the department's own funds.

"ICMSA is taking this opportunity to tell [Minister Martin Heydon] that he is to put right out of his mind any idea that an agreement with the knackery providers will be reached by increasing the charges on farmers," Carroll commented.

"The minister should know better than most about the kinds of income hits and input surges that farmers are in the middle of and, accordingly, he should find increased funding from within his departmental spend, or look at possible simplifications in the scheme," he said.