Farmers are facing a 10m bale silage bale shortfall this winter. \ Donal O'Leary
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As drought conditions hit farm incomes and crops, retailers must show real solidarity with farmers, according to IFA president Joe Healy.
“We now urge all other retailers to extend the approach taken by Musgraves on field vegetables to extend it to include other producers such as farmers producing fresh milk,” Healy said.
“Most retailers sell some fresh milk at prices as low as 65c/l to 67c/l, which is insufficient to cover the true cost of putting fresh milk on the supermarket shelf.
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“Unsustainable discounting of fresh food is wrong at any time, but it is particularly damaging when farmers are facing weather-related massively increased feed expenditure.”
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Despite recent rainfall, many parts of the country are still included in Met Éireann’s drought map and grass growth remains low.
Farmers are making up for the lack of grass with first-cut silage and additional meal, which unfortunately adds to the overhang of spring bills.
The current pressures placed on farmers have raised concerns for farmers’ wellbeing and people have been urged to talk to friends or family if they are feeling stressed.
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As drought conditions hit farm incomes and crops, retailers must show real solidarity with farmers, according to IFA president Joe Healy.
“We now urge all other retailers to extend the approach taken by Musgraves on field vegetables to extend it to include other producers such as farmers producing fresh milk,” Healy said.
“Most retailers sell some fresh milk at prices as low as 65c/l to 67c/l, which is insufficient to cover the true cost of putting fresh milk on the supermarket shelf.
“Unsustainable discounting of fresh food is wrong at any time, but it is particularly damaging when farmers are facing weather-related massively increased feed expenditure.”
Credit
Despite recent rainfall, many parts of the country are still included in Met Éireann’s drought map and grass growth remains low.
Farmers are making up for the lack of grass with first-cut silage and additional meal, which unfortunately adds to the overhang of spring bills.
The current pressures placed on farmers have raised concerns for farmers’ wellbeing and people have been urged to talk to friends or family if they are feeling stressed.
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