Dairygold CEO Jim Woulfe has highlighted the fact that dairy market disruptors have many guises.

Speaking at the Macra na Feirme National conference in Corrin Mart, Fermoy, he said: “Up to now you would have said the biggest thing affecting the market was Brexit and it’s well documented the effects a hard Brexit would have. But there are always things that you would not have anticipated

“The US-EU trade war has or will impact us hugely since 18 October on two of our sites. There’s a 25% tariff imposed on Kerrygold butter that is going into the US that is manufactured in Mitchelstown. There’s a similar tariff proposed on Jarlsberg cheese from the Mogeely site, from a factory that is not yet commissioned. The US-EU and Airbus v Boeing issue is affecting Dairygold.”

Every two years in five something irrational is going to happen in the market will affect farm gate prices

He added that there were further complications in that “not all cheese or butter from Europe are treated the same going into the US. Irish cheese and butter is hit but the French isn’t.”

In a wide-ranging interview at the Macra event, Dairygold’s CEO said: “No matter how well you're planning, there is something coming down the line that you couldn't have anticipated. You have to factor in when planning can that every two years in five something irrational is going to happen in the market will affect farmgate prices.”

Dairy alternatives

The Limerick native also said the industry needs to defend itself better against dairy alternatives.

“We need to challenge the nutrient value of the dairy alternatives consistently. All the industry need to do it.

“They are really good at getting the message across and we need to be scientific and evidence-based in our approach.”

Bull calves

On the issue of dairy bull calves, Woulfe said it’s being debated at co-op level across the country and customers expect best-in-class practices at farm level. He said it was essential that best practice in terms of animal husbandry is applied.

Commenting on the dairy market for next six months, he said: “The outlook for early 2020 is better than mid-season 2019.”

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