The national blockade has unearthed simmering frustrations among farmers in the west who have been concerned about pricing for a long time, according to the IFA. "There seems to have been a huge amount of anger out there on the ground and people were already concerned that they were getting low prices prior to this dispute," said the Co Galway chairman of the IFA, Mr John Mannion.
"This protest is all about pricing at this stage, rather than the introduction of the veterinary levy. There is a lot of frustration among farmers and people are more than willing to come out and join the protest. More and more people are volunteering to come out and support us."
As of last night, farmers were still blockading the Kepak plant at Athleague, Co Roscommon; the Dawn Meats plants at Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo, and Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, and Duffy Meats of Gort, Co Galway.
Duffy Meats is not a member of the Irish Meat Association, and it agreed not to pass on the veterinary levy increase to farmers, but the IFA decided to include the plant in the blockade because of farmers' overall concerns over pricing.
Farm leaders in the west have noticed that former and lapsed members have returned to the IFA in recent days because of the extent of their support for the association in relation to the pricing issue.