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Inishleigh Co-op in Newtown Cunningham has this week set a grain price of €185/t for green barley. It appears to be the first co-op to set an official green harvest price this year.
There have been many reports so far of growers securing green harvest prices of €200/t and higher from merchants elsewhere in the country.
In Donegal, the announcement has been met with strong criticism.
Peter Lynch, the Donegal representative on the IFA’s national grain committee said: “If I could describe the news in one word, it would be diabolical. We should be offered more than €185/t. That price is simply unacceptable and, frankly, it’s a kick in the teeth.”
Lynch said that tillage farmers were not unreasonable or unrealistic and that they recognised buyers prices were dictated by market prices.
Scarce
However, he said that native barley was scarce and markets pointed to a higher price than €185/t.
He added: “There is easily room for another €10/t. All we are asking for is to be paid a fair price.”
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