The mechanics of the Lakeland and LacPatrick votes are fairly straightforward. Both meet next Tuesday afternoon to make their decision: Lakeland in Cavan town; LacPatrick in Cookstown. The politics of the vote, however, are far more difficult to decipher, such is the co-op way.

Lakeland, remember, is the amalgamation of Killeshandra and Lough Egish. Killeshandra would have had some history with Town of Monaghan, which amalgamated with Ballyrashane to form LacPatrick only three years ago, and such things can be an undercurrent in proceedings like this.

Within LacPatrick, criticism of the recently departed chair, his management team and the board has been far less subtle.

It is entirely understandable that feelings would run high, and it was important that they were vented at the recent round of meetings. The sense is that everything is now out in the open, and that the demand from shareholders that LacPatrick be absolutely frank with them has been met.

The message was stark: LacPatrick need this deal. A no-deal vote leads to a cliff-edge.

I should apologise for using a Brexit reference here, but in many ways Brexit is the backdrop to this debate. Both processors see two sides trying to reach an agreement: one for partnership, the other for the dissolution of a partnership and a civilised uncoupling.

The challenge is to see through the fog and emotion and get down to the substance of the central issue at hand.

It would seem strategically advantageous for the new co-op to have a significant production base and processing capacity on either side of the border, particularly as it will now be a border between the UK and Europe – a trade barrier of some form.

Lakeland will have access through Ireland to all EU markets, and through Northern Ireland will be in a position to take advantage of any new markets that the UK gains through bilateral trade deals. With four processing sites either side of the border, it has a leg in each camp.

Lakeland

One of the concerns being quietly discussed among Lakeland shareholders is the fear that LacPatrick suppliers, particularly north of the border, will slip away over time – and perhaps quite quickly.

However, Lakeland has a good history of retaining suppliers in Northern Ireland.

It is true that the supplier/processor relationship is far more fluid in Northern Ireland. However, the flexibility that Lakeland Dairies will have post-merger and post-Brexit could actually strengthen that link.

Lakeland would become the largest fully co-operative dairy processor on the island should this deal be agreed.

It’s a big decision, one that should be taken purely on its own merits.