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The contentious Glanbia fixed price scheme was up for discussion among a delegation of county dairy chairs, who met with Glanbia management on Friday 30 November. IFA dairy committee chair Tom Phelan led the discussion.
Farmers have just one week left to apply for the scheme, which grants them volumes at the guaranteed price of 29.4c/l (excluding VAT) for the year. Farmers must commit to trade with Glanbia Ireland to the value of at least 5 cents on their full 2020 supply.
Voluntary
"While Glanbia point out the scheme is voluntary, we have made it clear that farmers find the requirement to trade 5c/l with Glanbia on all milk coercive and they are fearful that if they don’t reach that level, they simply will not get any volume,” said Phelan.
“Glanbia have told us that the majority of their suppliers already trade in excess of 5c/l with Glanbia. Inflexibility on an unnecessary detail of the scheme cannot damage what should be a positive relationship with their farmer members,” he added.
“I urge Glanbia management to take away our comments and reflect on them, and to apply flexibility on the trading requirement.”
SHARING OPTIONS: