Farm organisations and their members fear that a recent increase in the level of feed prices and minerals is unnecessary and unjustifiable.
Feed merchants have blamed the increase on a shortage in the global supply of vitamins after a factory fire in Germany.
However, ICSA general secretary Eddie Punch said: “A sales rep told me this week that prices are going to go through the roof because they have run out of the stock they had in storage.”
A €15/t increase in beef ration in some co-ops is being attributed to the shortage in vitamins A and E, while for some farmers, the cost of a 20kg bag of dry cow minerals has risen from €23 to €32 a bag.
“It’s debatable how much they should add to tonne of ration and it’s a wake-up call to show that farmers shouldn’t be exposed to a monopoly supply,” Punch said.
Vitamins A and E are a component of most feeds and supplements, but fears are growing in the farming community that feed merchants could be taking advantage of the situation, and increasing prices beyond justification.
