Thursday, 21st


December 2017


info@eastcorkjournal.ie


EAST CORK AGRICULTURE info@eastcorkjournal.ie


Farmers Reminded Of 31 December For Nitrates Reporting


In 2016, over 40% per-


cent of Cross Compliance fines related to farmers ex- ceeding the 170kgs of N/ hectare nitrates limit or the 250kgs of N/hectare limit in the case of derogation farms and if we are to re- duce farmers’ exposure to such a level of penalties in 2017, it is vital that farmers inform the Department by 31 December 2017 of the measures being taken to bring them under the lim- its, according to the Chair- person of ICMSA’s Farm & Rural Affairs Commit- tee.


“ICMSA believes that


the current penalty regime is cumbersome, unfair on farmers and should have been reformed as part of


the Nitrates Review. Unfor- tunately, this did not hap- pen, and we’re left with this regime - unfair as it is, so farmers should now check their N status to make sure that


they are meeting the


regulations and thus avoid- ing a financial penalty”, said Patrick Rohan. “If


farmers have


breached these limits, they must now inform the De- partment before the 31st December on the meas- ures they took during the year to bring them under the limit. Examples would include renting additional land that is not included in their BPS application, reducing livestock num- bers or exporting enough slurry/farmyard manure.


Affected farmers need to complete the relevant pa- perwork - these are the R3, R4 or R5 form available on Department website - and then send it to the Nitrates Department, Johnstown Castle, Wexford before the 31st


December deadline to


avoid penalties”, he said. Mr Rohan emphasised


that with more cows on farms, we may have situation where


farmers


who were compliant with this regulation in previous years may no longer be so. “I would urge farmers not to be complacent on this matter and check their statements now while they still have time to rectify matters”, Rohan.


concluded Mr.


Glanbia Ireland Sets November Milk Price Of 35cpl


confirmed that


Glan-


bia will hold a full series of regional information meetings for shareholders and suppli- ers in Jan- uary. This will provide a


Glanbia Ireland will


pay its milk suppliers 35 cent per litre (cpl) including VAT for No- vember manufacturing milk supplies at 3.6% butterfat and 3.3% pro- tein. This price is un- changed from the Octo- ber price. Glanbia


Ireland Chairman Henry Cor-


bally said: “higher glob- al milk supply has led to reduced market returns for the basket of dairy products. The


Board


will continue to monitor market developments on a monthly basis.”


Information meetings Henry Corbally also


@eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal Have you got a story for the detailed


briefing on the 2018 market outlook, as well as an update on business developments and Glan- bia schemes and services for farmers. Full details of meeting times and venues will be commu- nicated to suppliers and will be posted on www. glanbiaconnect.com


eastcorkjournal


If you have a news story you would like included in the paper please email


info@eastcorkjournal.ie before 12 noon on Monday


prior to desired publication date Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie ? a Cork dairy farmer, and


Chairman of the IFA National Dairy Com- mittee


Sean O’Leary


has said an examination by IFA of the difference between the EU returns for an Irish product mix, as reported by the EU Milk Market Observato- ry, minus a 5c/l process- ing cost, and the average of the Farmers’ Journal Monthly League


Milk Price suggests that


co-ops, while increasing milk prices significant- ly, have been able since mid-2016 to retain sig- nificant value from the market and rebuild their balance sheets. He said this means that, even allowing for


23


Deadline Monday at noon


Co-Ops Can Afford Commitment To Hold Prices Until Spring At Least – O’Leary


some supporting of milk prices in early 2016, co-ops should be in a comfortable position to hold prices at least until spring, and should even examine their overall 2017 financial situation to consider the payment of end-year bonuses. “Between July 2016


and October 2017, the average gap between the price paid by co-ops (av- erage of the FJ League) and the returns from the EU market (based on EU MMO returns after 5c/l processing costs) was around 2c/l, var- ying between 0.2c/l in October 2017 and over 4c/l in September and October 2016. We esti-


mate this retained value would have been worth over €190m to co-ops, bearing in mind the vol- ume growth over the pe- riod,” Mr O’Leary said. “It was obviously vi-


tal for farmers to ben- efit from the significant market


improvements


over that period, after a couple of very difficult years. Co-ops clearly supported milk prices in January to May 2016, by an average of just over 1c/l according to our study, and also needed to rebuild their balance sheets,” he said. “However, we believe


they have been well able to do this, bearing in mind the major volume


increases over the pe- riod, and are now in a comfortable position to commit to holding their current milk prices at least until spring, with the option of end of year bonus needing very seri- ous consideration also,” he added. “Co-op boards are


meeting this week to con- sider the November milk price, and look forward to what challenges 2018 might bring. National Dairy Committee mem- bers have been lobbying them in this context, and we look forward to fair commitments being made by co-ops to their suppliers over the com- ing days,” he concluded.


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