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The board made the decision in recognition of the difficult year experienced by tillage farmers and the importance of sourcing native grain.
Centenary paid a base price of €129/t for barley in 2015, but a system of bonuses and gradual haulage allowances meant that quality grain could fetch up to €143/t. Although yields were down this year, overall quality is expected to allow most growers to keep their bonuses.
Other buyers to set price
IFA grain committee chair Liam Dunne welcomed the announcement and called on other co-ops and merchants to follow suit and at least maintain last year’s levels when setting 2016 prices this month. “The number of growers who supply Centenary is not huge, but they have put a mark on it,” he said.
Dunne added that while buyers could import cheaper barley at the moment, this would cover straw needs, and he acknowledged the fact that Centenary had taken this into account.
Price decisions from major buyers are coming as tillage farmers face tough decisions after four years of low prices and weather difficulties across the western half of the country this year.
Pat O’Toole contributed reporting for this story.
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