"We're here to seek the resignation of the board and management," milk supplier Eoin Burke told over 200 Dairygold suppliers gathered outside the co-op's head office in Mitchelstown on Friday.
The midday protest was convened by the concerned shareholders group following the 3c/l cut announced in Dairygold's price on Wednesday.
"They are completely overwhelmed with the task of running this co-op," Burke continued.
"They're in this situation for the last 12 months, they do not seem to have any solutions to the problems that they're in, the problems seem to be deepening. Unless we stop it soon, I fear it could be all over for our co-op."
Burke described the cut as "completely unprecedented".
A statement from Dairygold highlighted that the co-op has organised a meeting for next Thursday 25 September at 2pm in the Firgrove Hotel, giving "all members an opportunity to receive an update on the recent global dairy market dynamics and the related impact on milk price".
Dairygold suppliers Eamon English, Dan Hogan, Tadhg McSweeney and Nigel Sweetnam highlight the gap between their milk price and that of Kerry Co-op at a protest at Dairygold's Mitchelstown head office on Friday.
Dairygold expressed understanding of the price cut's impact on suppliers.
"It is a significant reduction," the co-op said. "However, Dairygold had to take account of the market and our response to the current market dynamics, has been to set an August quoted milk price of 45.0c/l, based on standard constituents, which equates to an average farm gate price of 52.7c/l, based on the average milk solids achieved by Dairygold milk suppliers in August."
Bottom of milk league
Suppliers highlighted that this price left towards the bottom of the Irish Farmers Journal milk league.
"We're always behind the Carbery co-ops, but now we're 5c/l behind, that's unacceptable," said Tadhg McSweeney.
"And we always could match Kerry for price, but now we're 2.5c behind them. That equates to a loss of €1,500 for the average 550,000-litre milk supplier for August alone."
The protesters want the entire board to step down, with elections among all shareholders to replace them.
"One man, one vote" as one speaker said - "we're not being represented".
"A winter of discontent lies ahead for Dairygold, they've lost the confidence of the suppliers who fuel and who own the business," said another.
Read more
Dairygold and Kerry cut milk prices as GDT falls
ICMSA slams cut to Dairygold’s milk price
"We're here to seek the resignation of the board and management," milk supplier Eoin Burke told over 200 Dairygold suppliers gathered outside the co-op's head office in Mitchelstown on Friday.
The midday protest was convened by the concerned shareholders group following the 3c/l cut announced in Dairygold's price on Wednesday.
"They are completely overwhelmed with the task of running this co-op," Burke continued.
"They're in this situation for the last 12 months, they do not seem to have any solutions to the problems that they're in, the problems seem to be deepening. Unless we stop it soon, I fear it could be all over for our co-op."
Burke described the cut as "completely unprecedented".
A statement from Dairygold highlighted that the co-op has organised a meeting for next Thursday 25 September at 2pm in the Firgrove Hotel, giving "all members an opportunity to receive an update on the recent global dairy market dynamics and the related impact on milk price".
Dairygold suppliers Eamon English, Dan Hogan, Tadhg McSweeney and Nigel Sweetnam highlight the gap between their milk price and that of Kerry Co-op at a protest at Dairygold's Mitchelstown head office on Friday.
Dairygold expressed understanding of the price cut's impact on suppliers.
"It is a significant reduction," the co-op said. "However, Dairygold had to take account of the market and our response to the current market dynamics, has been to set an August quoted milk price of 45.0c/l, based on standard constituents, which equates to an average farm gate price of 52.7c/l, based on the average milk solids achieved by Dairygold milk suppliers in August."
Bottom of milk league
Suppliers highlighted that this price left towards the bottom of the Irish Farmers Journal milk league.
"We're always behind the Carbery co-ops, but now we're 5c/l behind, that's unacceptable," said Tadhg McSweeney.
"And we always could match Kerry for price, but now we're 2.5c behind them. That equates to a loss of €1,500 for the average 550,000-litre milk supplier for August alone."
The protesters want the entire board to step down, with elections among all shareholders to replace them.
"One man, one vote" as one speaker said - "we're not being represented".
"A winter of discontent lies ahead for Dairygold, they've lost the confidence of the suppliers who fuel and who own the business," said another.
Read more
Dairygold and Kerry cut milk prices as GDT falls
ICMSA slams cut to Dairygold’s milk price
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