Suppliers to the four west Cork co-ops have received letters from Carbery giving them four weeks in which to share up, to meet their 2015 milk output.

The co-op requires them to have 16 shares per 1,000 litres of “old” milk, equivalent to a farmer’s former quota.

Output above this is “new” milk, and a supplier must hold 25 shares per 1,000l. However, any quota held under the Temporary Leasing Scheme and supply of former flexi milk is also deemed to be “new” milk, even where this was supplied to the farmer’s co-op for years.

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Shares cost €2.21 each, so sharing up for any additional cows will typically cost a supplier €250.

Suppliers must purchase any required shares within the trading window, which runs from 22 January to 22 February 2016.

The short time frame is a concern, given low milk payments.