A meeting of Tirlán farmers who are impacted by low fixed milk price (FMP) contracts will be held in the Dolmen Hotel, Carlow, this Thursday 13 October.

The meeting, which kicks off at 7.30pm, is being facilitated by the IFA and will assess the ongoing implications of the fixed milk controversy for Tirlán suppliers.

Close to 2,000 Tirlán suppliers are believed to have milk tied into such contracts, with some farmers having as much as 90% of their supply in such schemes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Around 500 of the processor’s suppliers qualified for a support package launched by Tirlán earlier this year, as they had more than 35% of their milk tied in.

Some of this milk was initially tied in at prices as low as 30c/l with no market adjustment mechanisms.

However, up to 250 Tirlán milk suppliers have refused to join the co-op’s support scheme due to a requirement that farmers taking up the package had to commit significant volumes at 38c/l for 2023 and 2024. This is 19c/l below current base milk price.

Significant income losses have been incurred by Tirlán suppliers as a result of the FMP controversy.

However, those organising the meeting claim that they have got little buy-in from Tirlán board members or milk advisers regarding the severity of the difficulties faced by affected farmers.

The latest Tirlán FMP scheme, which closed in the spring, offered a base milk price of 42c/l for 2022 and 40c/l for 2023 and 2024.

Tirlán declined to comment on the level of uptake, citing commercial sensitivities.