Dairy
"A general economic growth uncertainty and a perception about long-term consumer trends is feeding back into milk prices."
Gerald Quain said the obvious way for processors to support dairy farmers is to increase the price they pay.
Earlier today, Glanbia announced its milk price for the month of May; the processor held its base price, but reduced its support payment compared to the previous month.
Processors have been called upon to hold milk prices for the last month of 2017, due to the "relative stability in the market".
Farming in Creggane, Charleville, Co. Limerick, the Quain family has been dairy farming on the Limerick/Cork border for generations.
The latest price boosts are a welcome acknowledgement of the underlying strengths of dairy markets both presently and into the medium term.
A "hugely concerning price gap” has opened up between Irish dairy prices and those of counterparts on the continent.
Dairy farmers are fully justified in their demand for a further increase in the July milk price, the ICMSA’s Gerald Quain has announced.
The decision by some processors to up their June milk prices to 33c/L has been described as "a month late", by the ICMSA's Gerald Quain.
Ornua's Purchase Price Index (PPI) for June should make a "significant jump" due to obvious market improvements, according to the ICMSA.
Based on market returns, the absolute minimum acceptable November milk price is 30c/L, according to ICMSA's, Gerald Quain.
Other
Lakeland Dairies acquisition of Country Down-based Fane Valley Dairies was a prudent move in light of a potential Brexit in June.
Agri-Business
The new chair of ICMSA Dairy Committee has called for a stabilizing mechanism to be introduced for the post-quota EU milk market
