Greencore has been accused of dealing a double blow to grain farmers in the midlands. Seán MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent, reports.
The charge came during a protest at the closure of Banagher Maltings, Co Offaly, a plant controlled by Greencore which will close along with the Carlow sugar factory next month.
The chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association's national grain committee, Mr Paddy Harrington, told a protest at the plant that the loss of the malting barley contracts in the area would tip the supply-demand balance, and further collapse the already low price for feed grains.
"The combined closure of Minch Malt's Banagher Maltings, the Carlow sugar plant and the loss of the contracts is a double blow to the arable sector in the midlands.
"Many growers are now questioning the future viability of arable farming in the region," he said.
"Greencore has shown scant regard for its farmer suppliers/customers, and their future commitment to Irish agriculture is now in question."
A statement from Minch Malt, the Irish entity of Greencore Malt, said that, while it regretted the closure of Banagher Maltings and the knock-on effects it would have, it was unavoidable in the light of significant losses in recent years.