As the combination of Storm Emma and the beast from the east bring Ireland to a stand-still a number of agri-businesses and co-ops have been forced to limit their services.

The majority of co-ops across the country remain open until 1pm on Thursday. They then close and remain closed until 3pm on Friday at the earliest. Decisions to re-open will be made on an case-by-case basis, with each one assessing the situation as it happens.

Milk collection and meal delivery services will stop at 3pm on Thursday as the red weather warning comes into effect and will resume when it finishes, providing it is safe to do so.

Glanbia

Glanbia confirmed that 50 of its 53 branches opened this Thursday morning but closed at 1pm and will only re-open "when it is safe to do so" – most likely not before Friday afternoon.

Meal delivery services and milk collection are available until Thursday afternoon but are being stood down depending on local conditions.

“Simply keeping farms operational in these weather conditions is extremely challenging for farmers. We wish to thank employees and contractors for their great efforts to support our farmers,” Glanbia Ireland chair Henry Corbally said.

“Any milk supplier in difficulty should contact their local Glanbia representative. It is vital that safety is the number one priority for all”.

Kerry

Kerry has also confirmed that its services have been disrupted by the oncoming storm.

“We had kept our fleet and tankers on the road but they were stood down at 2pm today following the status red alert," a Kerry Group spokesperson said.

“We will revisit the situation on Friday. Our feed deliveries also continued up until 2pm on Thursday.

“Our agri-business shares closed at 2pm also and will reopen on Saturday.

“Hopefully, our transport fleet will be on the road by 4pm on Friday again.”

Dairygold

Dairygold had increased its services in the run-up to Storm Emma but has confirmed that they will be calling a halt to services from 2pm today (Thursday), with plans to reopen on Friday weather permitting.

LacPatrick

Following an emergency meeting on this (Thursday) morning the staff at the Monaghan town site will cease work at 2pm and the site will not be open on Friday.

This will lead to milk collections being disrupted and LacPatrick has stated that milk will be collected on a case-by-case basis.

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“We would urge farmers who need milk collected to contact their local haulier to see if it is possible to have their milk collected,” Ian Hamilton group logistics manager at LacPatrick said.

“Our hauliers are committed to getting milk collected but we are insistent that safety is the number one priority.

“Again we would like to thank farmers for making every effort in having their lanes and yards cleaned and gritted. This is critical to aiding in getting the milk collected.”

Aurivo

Aurivo has stated that their hauliers will try to keep services running as normal, but some disruption will be inevitable.

They have advised farmers to keep paths and farmyards as clear as possible to allow for collections.

Centenary Thurles

Due to the weather Centenary Thurles, have said that all their branches will close from 2.30pm today (Thursday) until Saturday.

There will be no feed deliveries or milk collections on Friday but these services will resume on Saturday, road conditions permitting.

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