Irish Grain Farmers Accuse Merchants Of Price Fixing

Irish farmers have accused merchants of taking advantage of the atrocious harvest conditions in order to slash grain prices with levels as low as EUR130/t being offered for barley in the southeast.

The break-even figure for wheat and barley growers is estimated to be in the region of EUR155/t for the current harvest.

IFA grain committee chairman Colum McDonnell has claimed that merchants were acting in concert to undermine the market.

He said a number of key independent players in the sector had been working behind the scenes to persuade merchants to cut grain prices.

Presumably the IFA hasn't got access to the internet and isn't aware that London futures prices aren't £200/tonne anymore?

Or that the entire northern hemisphere is awash with feed grain?

Or are they just smarting that they held on when they should have sold, only to find lo & behold that they haven't got gold dust sitting in the barn, just high moisture feed wheat desperately in need of a dryer?

Don't you just love these boys, prices go to £200/tonne & they're still not happy!