“The unilateral change in the terms of purchase of milk by Connacht Gold would undoubtedly be held as a breach in contract in normal circumstances. Why should it be different between a farmer and his Co-op? It is a sad day when the relationship between the farmer and his Co-op will not even meet the most basic standards of commercial practice - let alone the much-respected Co-op spirit.

“In some cases, the penalties being introduced by Connacht Gold are higher than the price of milk paid by the Co-op. At a time of unprecedented pressure on dairy farmers, the Co-Op should be doing everything possible to assist dairy farm-ers and not arbitrarily introducing a rule with five days notice that will force many farmers to stop supplying milk immediately as well as having a very adverse impact on their cashflow situation at this time of year.

“ Quite aside from that studied insult to farm families well into their second generation supplying milk to the Co-op, the penalties being proposed are absolutely draconian and of a scale that you’d expect from the EU Commission, not from a farmer owned Co-op.

Source: westernpeople.ie