Farmers block deliveries at plant

Milk deliveries from farms to the Dairygold Milk Processing plant in Michelstown, Co Cork, were blocked at the entrance to the…

Milk deliveries from farms to the Dairygold Milk Processing plant in Michelstown, Co Cork, were blocked at the entrance to the facility for two hours yesterday by grain farmers.

More than 30 grain growers from the mid-Cork area wanted to protest against the "interim" prices they were being offered for their grain by the Dairygold co-operative.

The company recently appointed a new chief executive, Mr Jerry Henchy.

The action - which was carried out by individual farmers and was not organised by the Irish Farmers' Association - began shortly after 6 a.m. and ended two hours later when Mr Henchy met the protesters, who are believed to come from the Castletownroche area.

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Dairygold management said they had thought that recent difficulties with farmers - which arose when the company offered the IFA what it termed an "interim" price earlier in the month - had been resolved.

Following a meeting with growers it had sent each farmer supplier a letter saying the full price for this year's grain would be determined in line with market value and paid shortly after the harvest was completed.

Earlier this month, the chairman of the IFA's national grain committee, Mr Paddy Harrington, said his members were very annoyed at the manner in which the interim prices were released, giving the impression these were the final prices.

However, following a meeting between the two sides last Monday, Mr Harrington said Dairygold had given a commitment that its final price, to be determined at the end of August, "will not be found wanting and \ be among the leading price paid for grain this harvest".

Mr Henchy said Dairygold was committed to paying full value for grain.