Union hopeful of milk auction increase
Andrew Addison
FOLLOWING the 7.8% increase in commodity prices at the latest New Zealand Fonterra Milk Auction, the Ulster Farmers’ Union are hopeful that this will be replicated in next week’s (23 August) United Dairy Farmers’ Auction.
Speaking ahead of the auction, UFU dairy chairman Andrew Addison said: “With a 7.8% increase in this week’s Fonterra Milk Auction we would expect to see a similar rise in our own auction here in Northern Ireland. What is encouraging from the Fonterra Auction is that contracts going forward for October 2012 to December 2012 are showing increases in whole milk powder prices of 7-8%. This will help our processors on the export market.
“With dairy farmers under severe pressure with wet weather disrupting silage making, more concentrate feed being used and rising feed prices impacting upon local farms, any increase in commodity prices will be welcomed. However, following the anticipated rise in meal prices due to the drought conditions in America farmers may struggle to see the benefit.”
Mr Addison continued: “We also need to see both retailers and processors taking a more responsible approach in the sale of fresh quality milk rather than selling it as a loss leader to encourage consumers into their stores. Although the Northern Ireland liquid milk market only represents a small proportion of our overall dairy product market, this high quality product is being unnecessarily devalued and is an important issue which we intend to address.”
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Sunday 19 May 2013
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