Sligo members expected to travel to ICMSA AGM as Brexit and Ornua-Glanbia ‘row’ dominate

A LARGE Sligo contingent will be expected to travel to this year’s ICMSA Annual General Meeting to be held in Limerick’s South Court Hotel on November 30.

The state’s specialist family dairy farm organisation has a heritage of outspoken and hard-hitting meetings and this year’s will doubtless be in the same vein. The lineup of speakers includes Commissioner Phil Hogan, Minister Creed and John Jordan, Chief Executive, Ornua, all of whom will certainly be quizzed from the floor on the updated Brexit situation – a picture changing by the day but one that will surely be clearer at that stage.

It’s also almost certain that very pointed questions will be directed at Mr Jordan of Ornua on the controversy that has erupted following the decision of Glanbia to launch its ‘ Truly Grass Fed’ range in the very valuable U.S. export market in direct competition with the Kerrygold range owned and marketed by Ornua, in which Glanbia is the largest shareholder.

The meeting will be addressed by the association’s President, Pat McCormack, who, in addition to commenting on those issues, will speak on what has been one of the most challenging years in terms of weather, costs, poor markets and crippling uncertainty that farmers can remember. Numbers will be limited and interest is always high, so members intending to attend are asked to ring 061-314677 or email info@ icmsa.ie to confirm. The agm will end at 5pm with dinner served immediately then.