DAIRY farmers have said they may go on strike due to what they call "an ongoing abysmal milk price".
Lobby group Farmers For Action (FFA) said they are not receiving sufficient assurances from co-operatives that a sustainable price will be paid in the coming months.
It will hold a crisis meeting on the matter towards the end of November, which could pave the way for a strike coming up to the busy Christmas period.
William Taylor from the group said: "All Northern Ireland dairy farmers will be welcome and a vote will be taken after the debate to have a milk strike unless corporate food retailers, corporate food wholesalers and co-op milk processors put their contempt for NI dairy farmers behind them, put their heads together and immediately make clear month by month increases on the base price of all NI farm gate milk purchases leading up to confirmation of 40p/l by December".
And he said the north's dairy sector was in a strong position to get its message heard.
"Northern Ireland’s dairy farmers now have nothing to lose by striking as milk is in short supply, the EU reduction support is available and not forgetting that milk is worth approximately 10p/l as fertilizer," he said.
"At long last this puts NI farmers in the driving seat where they now have the power to deliver fairness at the farm gate.”
The call comes despite a commitment from the north's largest milk buyer United Dairy Farmers to give producers a winter milk production bonus.
It is understood the co-operative will pay an extra 2p per litre above base rate for all milk in October, November and December.
Ulster Farmers' Union dairy chairman William Irvine said: "It seems ironic that as the EU’s voluntary milk production reduction scheme is being implemented, United finds itself in the position of needing more milk to satisfy the business it has through its Dale Farm brand.
"This is encouraging news for producers – and I hope other processors will follow United's lead to allow farmers to benefit from what is happening on national and global dairy markets."
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Agriculture Producers Association said an aid package from the EU - thought to be worth £4.5 million to the north - should be for the benefit of all sectors.
NIAPA president Michael Clarke said the money should benefit the diary industry and others in the livestock sector "in the form of support for the pig sector and this alongside a soil testing and liming support scheme, which would leave a constructive legacy, therefore fitting EU criteria".
