Munster Dairy Producer organisation opens membership applications

Doyle confirmed that a series of public meetings for dairy farmers will be held in the coming weeks, with each session starting at 8:30 p.m. The schedule for these meetings is as follows:

• Wednesday, June 27: Woodlands Hotel, Adare, Co. Limerick
• Tuesday, July 2: Rose Hotel, Tralee, Co. Kerry
• Wednesday, July 3: Woodstock Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare

Membership application forms will be available at these meetings. The application fee to join the MDPO is set at €100.

Background and Objectives

In April, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) officially approved Ireland’s second dairy producer organisation. The MDPO was developed by a group of Kerry Group milk suppliers who were dissatisfied with the milk prices paid by the company.

James Doyle emphasized that the primary goal of the MDPO is to collectively negotiate the best milk price and supply terms for farmers. The organisation is open to discussions with any milk purchaser to ensure fair pricing and terms for its members.

Facilitation and Support

The establishment of the MDPO was facilitated by Limerick-based barrister and agribusiness consultant, Ciaran Dolan, who has experience in setting up producer organisations. Dolan has previously facilitated the creation of two beef producer organisations and is an approved producer organisation facilitator by DAFM.

Future Developments

In a related development, Kerry Group has confirmed that it is working on a new contract for its milk suppliers. The current contract will expire in April 2026. Pat Murphy, chief executive of Kerry Dairy Ireland, stated that the new contract is currently being drafted and will be available in the coming months.

For more information on the MDPO and upcoming meetings, dairy farmers are encouraged to attend the scheduled sessions and apply for membership to take advantage of collective bargaining and improved supply terms.