Suppliers ramp up milk price campaign
KERRY milk suppliers continued their campaign over the leading milk price with another protest this Tuesday in Tralee.
It follows a protest of around 500 last month at Kerry’s ‘red brick building’ in Charleville.
Many Limerick farmers travelled to Kerry Group headquarters, Princess Street, Tralee this Tuesday for the protest at 11.30am.
Garryspillane man Seamus Crawford said it is being run by farmers on the ground.
“Nothing whatsoever was done by Kerry since the last protest. Currently, the Kerry milk price is 3.7 cent /litre under the leading players to date in 2023,” said Mr Crawford, who is one of the supporters.
The protest was in advance of the June milk price being set later this week.
“We need Kerry to understand they have to pay for milk and close the gap in the June milk price. They are so far behind everybody else.
"We have a contract with them for the leading milk price, it isn’t a leading milk price, it is the leading milking price,” stressed Mr Crawford. He adds that Kerry PLC have “failed to engage in the arbitration process and this needs to be addressed also”.
The dairy farmer said Kerry suppliers are losing out on an awful lot of money compared to farmers supplying other co-ops.
Mr Crawford noted that their Kerry contracts end in January, 2026, and there is a mood among some to switch.
“All co-ops are going to be short of milk with the nitrates regulations which will have massive implications. Dairygold have invested heavily in Mitchelstown and Tipperary Co-op have put in a new dryer.
"They need milk going through. Limerick dairy farmers would be very attractive to these co-ops because of their proximity.
There is a lot of milk in Limerick,” said Mr Crawford.
Farm Leader contacted Kerry for comment about the protest.
A spokesperson said global dairy markets remain pressurised as we move into the second half of 2023.
“Kerry continues to monitor dairy market returns and remains fully committed to its contractual agreement to pay a like-for-like leading milk price,” said the spokesperson to the Limerick Leader.