“We have to support our members,” said Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe said on Friday morning at the Mallow development partnership and Mallow Chamber business breakfast

"Dairy business economic benefits for Mallow and its hinterland. If it means Dairygold having to go to a breakeven scenario for a period, as a co-op we have to support our members.

“We have competitive advantage over other dairy producing countries. We need to be more conscious of stress levels right now and it essential that a farmer lets the co-op or bank know if they are in difficulty so a plan can be put in place to deal with issues,” Woulfe said.

In an exclusive interview with the Irish Farmers Journal last year, Woulfe confirmed that Dairygold had supported milk price by €19m for the first six months of 2015.

Banks

Representatives from the banks present said they were willing to work with stressed farmers to help get them through this challenging period of a sustained wet period and low milk prices.

When questioned on how the Irish dairy industry is viewed abroad Woulfe responded by saying that Ireland one of the figures that best illustrates our standing is that 15% of infant milk formula traded globally is Irish.

He also held the view that we are well thought of slow and while some view the Irish dairy sector as slow to change it is seen as very reliable nonetheless. Future plans to create further employment for example in packing of produce and transport.

According to Woulfe, Asian customers, for example, want product packed at source and prepared to pay a premium for this.

At farm level, one of the main challenges Woulfe said he is hearing is that it is difficult to get good farm labour.

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