The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is calling for an end to paying farmers retrospectively for milk.
Farmers in NI are the only place in the UK where dairy processors use a retrospective payment system.
David Brown, UFU deputy president said: “At the beginning of November, First Milk, A GB based cooperative announced the price their farms would receive for milk produced in December.
“But here farmers will not know until mid to late January what they will receive for December milk. That is simply wrong.”
The UFU says moving to end retrospective milk pricing would be a sign of goodwill and commitment to farmers by dairy processors.
“There is no good reason for this approach and change is long overdue,” Mr Brown added.
He pointed out that with rising costs including fertiliser and fuel it is vital that farmers know in advance what they would be paid.
“This is key to managing cash flows, but under current pricing arrangements something as simple and logical as that is impossible.”
LSL NEWS.