Management at Kerry Co-op Creameries is confident that all milk suppliers will sign its new milk supplier contract.
That's according to co-op chairman James Tangney, who was reacting to a statement by the Munster Dairy Producer Organisation.
That group has urged its approximately 200 members not to sign the new contract, citing several concerns.
Despite the existing contract expiring on 30th April, suppliers only received their contract in recent days.
They have until 4th August to sign the new one.
Chairman James Tangney told Radio Kerry's Agritime with Sari Houlihan why the contract was delayed:
There are some differences between the new and the last contract, including that a commitment to pay the leading milk price has not been continued into the new contract.
Mr Tangney points to the Kerry milk price being at the upper end of milk price tables last year.
The share-up collection, which was part of the deal agreed in Dec 2024 to buy the dairy business from Kerry Group, is not included in the contract..
Mr Tangney says another mechanism will be put in place to collect that money from farmers, but not until 2027.
He says he's confident suppliers will agree to the new contract:
