LEADING farm groups in the north have said low milk prices are "by far the biggest issue" for local farmers and the Northern Ireland economy.
In a joint statement Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association (NIAPA) and Farmers For Action (FFA) have come together on the issue of farmgate prices, stating they should be almost double the current rate.
Farmgate prices represents the average price paid by dairies for all milk purchased in the month.
"Northern Ireland farmgate prices are by far the biggest issue for Northern Ireland farmers and the Northern Ireland economy, followed in closed tandem by Brexit and the far from solved border issue for the UK and the Republic of Ireland, where staying part of the Customs Union is the only common-sense solution."
With current milk prices at around 27p per litre the farm group have argued in pales in comparison to German figures released by the European Milk Board (EMB).
"Farm gate milk price should be is 50c/l or 45p/l, yet large corporate food retailers, large corporate food wholesalers and co-op food processors continue to fill their pockets," the statement says.
"Enough is enough of rubbing financial salt into farmers financial wounds, of which there are many and in many cases too many to recover from."
"It’s time for Stormont’s politicians to get back to work and prove they value Northern Ireland’s farming families and the top quality home grown food they produce, including their link to Northern Ireland’s prosperity."
The local farming groups have called on MLAs to get back to work on the hill and start processing the farmgate price legislation bill they have proposed.
The statement further states that it is time to "mothball" the Agri Food Strategy Board (AFSB) and all other government supported bodies, who insist Northern Ireland farmers should get more efficient and produce more, until the thorny issue of farmgate prices is resolved.
