Up to 50 farmers protested outside the gates of Kerry Group’s facility in Charleville on Tuesday over the slow progress being made following the arbitration ruling on the contentious “leading milk price” issue.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal this week, executive secretary of Kerry Co-op Thomas Hunter McGowan said the co-op’s leading milk price committee will meet with representatives of Kerry Group today (Thursday) to begin formal talks on the bonus payment for 2015 milk.

In September, an independent arbitrator ruled that the four west Cork co-ops should be included in determining the “leading milk price” on a like-for-like basis.

Analysis

Hunter McGowan said the co-op has been waiting for Kerry Group to complete its analysis for 2015 milk prices and both sides were now ready to engage.

“It falls on the board of Kerry Co-op to declare whether the leading milk price has been paid on a like-for-like basis.

"It’s up to Kerry Group to present robust evidence for not paying the 1.4c/lbonus on 2015 milk that we think we’re owed,” said Hunter McGowan.

Thursday’s meeting between Kerry Group and Kerry Co-op’s leading milk price committee will give a good indication on how far apart both sides are on the issue.

Last week, Kerry Group indicated that its analysis to date suggests that no adjustment is required to the 2015 Kerry milk price payment.