A two-day blockade by farmers against the landing of a large shipment of wheat at Drogheda port was lifted yesterday following a deal between the importer and the Irish Farmers' Association.
IFA national grain committee chairman Mr Paddy Harrington said the wheat would only be released onto the market following consultation with the association and at a time when it would not distort the market price.
Up to 400 farmers had been protesting at the Co Louth port since early Saturday following the arrival of the Arklow Sky with 3,100 tonnes of wheat. The farmers prevented the shipment from being off-loaded.
Talks began early yesterday between the IFA and the trader who organised the shipment, resulting in agreement that the wheat would be moved into storage indefinitely.
An IFA spokesman noted the shipment was not low-cost wheat, as first thought, but an expensive load which would have had a depressive effect on the market.
The IFA is currently in negotiations on a harvest price for grain, and is particularly concerned about the impact of imported produce from eastern European states.
It last week met the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, and asked him to put a moratorium on imports until after the harvest.
Mr Harrington said growers should look for a minimum price of €94 a tonne plus VAT for all their grain.
British wheat is sold for as little as €80 a tonne. However, the Drogheda shipment was said to be selling at €114 to €117 a tonne.
Fine Gael's agriculture spokesman, Mr Billy Timmins TD, yesterday called on Mr Walsh to raise the "plight" of Irish grain farmers with the EU Commission.
