Farmers in Ireland have resumed protests over low farm-gate milk prices. Farmers mounted demonstrations across the country once more on Tuesday, protesting outside of Ireland's five main dairy processors.

The demonstrating dairy farmers maintain that higher feed and fuel costs are not being factored into prices, instead they say that supermarket moves to drive down milk prices means their narrow margins are being squeezed from both directions. Earlier this week dairy protestors called on retailers to "Take more responsibility for the sustainability of their supply sources," adding that this need not cost consumers any more.

Farmers have been supported in their actions by the Irish Farmers' Union. IFA National Liquid Milk Chairman Teddy Cashman said on Tuesday "It's very simple: we're going broke supplying liquid milk. Liquid milk producers are struggling to pay their winter feeding and energy bills. It is essential that dairies pay farmers a significant, and immediate, liquid milk price increase"

Speaking outside the Glanbia plant in County Kildare, Mr Cashman said, "While every dairy operates different milk pricing systems, all liquid milk producers today are producing milk for a price which does not cover our production costs. We need an annual average price of 40c/l to cover costs and pay a modest wage for our own labour, but our prices fall around 7c/l short of this break-even target."

Discontent is still rife in the UK supply chain, where farmers claim dairy processors and retailers have not abided by the voluntary measures agreed last summer, which put an end to a concerted campaign of protests and blockades of processing plants and retailers. UK farmers maintain that farm-gate prices are still below the cost of production.