Grain Buyers Must Not Follow Glanbia Lead with Dire Grain Price

IFA Grain Chairman Mark Browne has called on grain merchants, co-ops and compound feed mills not to follow the Glanbia lead on grain price.

“Farmers are furious over the recent grain price release from Glanbia and are refusing to accept it. The trade cannot follow Glanbia’s lead by paying a grain price which does not even meet production costs and leaves farmers operating at a loss,” he said.

The IFA Grain Chairman said there is scope in the market to pay higher prices for Irish grains as other merchants have committed to more sustainable prices in order to support Irish grain producers.

“Preliminary CSO figures indicate a further decline in tillage area this season with confidence now at a low ebb. Following years of poor returns, the Irish tillage sector is now at tipping point. This recent move by Glanbia is another hammer blow to the sector which will only compound the lack of confidence in the sector,” he said.

IFA has sought an emergency meeting with Glanbia to address the issue, with the meeting set to take place early next week.