Irish Milk Prices Drop: Hope Follows Suit
NORTHERN IRELAND, UK - Ulster Farmers Union President, Graham Furey, has described the one pence per litre drop in milk auction prices as another blow to the confidence of local dairy farmers.30 million litres of milk sold for an average price of 25.53 pence per litre. Last months average price was 26.5 pence per litre. Average price in August 2007 was 34.66 pence per litre.
* "The dairy sector in Northern Ireland is now at a cross roads with many dairy farmers unable to continue." |
Ulster Farmers Union President, Graham Furey
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Graham Furey said; “Dairy farmers costs of production have risen by about 5 pence per litre in the past year as feed, fertiliser and fuel bills have soared.
Those rising costs must be offset, but this weeks milk auction has resulted in prices falling by another penny, even though we are now coming into the Autumn period when costs of production will once again begin to rise. Auction prices are now more than 9 pence per litre less than this time last year.
The dairy sector in Northern Ireland is now at a cross roads with many dairy farmers unable to continue with this monthly cycle of disappointing auction prices and rising bills. We want to meet processors as quickly as possible to highlight the real pressure that producers are under.
Dairy companies will have to seriously re-think how we process and market dairy products from Northern Ireland. The revenue currently being generated will not sustain profitable dairy farming in the Province”.
TheCattleSite News Desk