Dairy troubles will remain after snow

IN the wake of Storm Emma and the extensive snow experienced in County Wicklow the ICMSA has called for a coordinated approach to ensure that all milk is collected from farms as soon as possible.

With a number of farmers hemmed in by heavy snowfalls and lorries unable to reach them to collect their milk, Wicklow ICMSA chairperson Shane O’Loughlin is appealing to processors to work with farmers at this difficult time. ‘With calving numbers ahead of last year, milk production levels are also up and it is essential that farmers who milked their cows in very difficult conditions suffer no loss due to delays in milk collections,’ he said. He noted that Glanbia had committed to paying 20 cent per litre for milk they were unable to collect but he pointed out that this still left the farmers down 15 cents per litre due to no fault of their own. The Aughrim farmer also welcomed the Government’s announcement that farmers who removed snow-related hazards on public roads will not be liable for any claims during the current extreme weather conditions. He said that farmers throughout Wicklow and right throughout the state have done an enormous amount of work clearing roads and trying to improve driving conditions and it was only fair that they were not made in any way liable for trying to help others and provide valuable voluntary work for the public good. Mr O’Loughlin said the clarification provided was welcome and should always be the case in these kinds of circumstances. He stressed that any farm inspections carried out over the next periods must take account of the damage done to sheds and guttering by the extreme weather and in no circumstances should penalties be imposed for non-compliance where buildings and equipment was damaged by the snow storm. Mr O’Loughlin paid tribute to council staff and emergency response teams who had done their best to help the farming and rural communities.