Farmers are to protest at meat factories across Ireland over what they claim are unprecedented lamb price cuts.
Irish Farmers' Association President John Dillon said sheep farmers would be demonstrating outside the country's major lamb factories tomorrow in a revolt over the impact of price cuts on incomes.
"There is real anger among sheep farmers at the actions of the lamb factories in cutting spring lamb prices by up to €1 per kg or almost €20 per lamb in the past two weeks," he said. "Some farmers are telling IFA they are refusing to sell at current prices."
The IFA president said the "massive" price cuts will devastate the incomes of early lamb producers and affect lamb prices for the 2005 season.
"The factories' attack on spring lamb prices so early in the season has destroyed confidence in the market and undermined prices both in France and the UK," he said.
Mr Dillon accused the Irish lamb factories of collectively leading down prices. He said sheep farmers will commence protesting outside all of the major lamb factories from 5pm tomorrow evening.
The factories involved are the Kepak plants in Athleague, Co Roscommon, and Hacketstown, Co Carlow; the Irish Country Meats plants in Camolin, Co Wexford, and Navan, Co Meath; the Dawn Meats plant in Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, and the Kildare Chilling plant in Kildare.