This article is from page 34 of the 2008-06-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 34 JPG
WITH diesel prices continuing to Squeeze farm incomes the farm or- ganisation came out fighting this week, attacking ministers and call- ing for pressure to be put on the co- Ops.
First up was ICSA general secretary and Cratloe farmer Eddie Punch who attacked environment minister John Gormley, describing the Green Party leader’s comments that farmers may have to cut their livestock numbers to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as “ridiculous”.
“On the one hand we have Minister Smith at the UN World Food Sum-
mit in Rome discussing global food shortages, while on the other hand Minister Gormley is suggesting we reduce our beef production,” he said.
‘“That’s just ridiculous. The beef in- dustry is vital to the Irish economy and any attempt to undermine it will be resisted by ICSA and all farmers.
‘Farmers have been to the fore in protecting the environment, through- out 15 year participation in REPS schemes, as well as implementing the Nitrates Directive. This veiled attack would not be tolerated by any other sector in Ireland and it won’t be tolerated by farmers either.”
Next up was Deputy President and Chairperson of ICMSA’s Dairy Com-
mittee, John O’ Leary, who called for co-op boards to face into making a decision on milk price as quick as possible.
‘Co-ops must at least maintain the April milk price as farmers will sim- ply not absorb a further cut in milk price following the massive drops in April,” he said
“Markets are now beginning to strengthen with dairy product prices increases in the UK, the EU and at world market levelling. In addi- tion, co-op boards simply cannot ignore the fact that input costs have increased substantially this year in particular fertiliser, feed and energy costs.”
ICMSA estimates these additional variable and fixed costs in 2008 at over 4 cent per litre of milk which is equivalent to over €9,000 for a full year’s milk production for a 50,000 gallon milk producer.
“It should be noted that this figure does not include depreciation nor the massive nitrate related investment costs taking place on farms at the present time,” said O’ Leary.
‘Taking account of the increased costs and the drop in milk price for April, farmer margins have been cut by about 10 cent per litre which, for a full year’s milk production represents an income loss of nearly €23,000 for a 50,000 milk producer.”