Irish Farmers' Association poultry chair Nigel Sweetnam said farmers will not tolerate any reduction in the margin they receive, as the retail price wars intensify, according to a press release from the association.

“Supermarkets are demanding premium product at world commodity prices with little or no regard to producers or processors’ costs of production, which are still substantially higher than the last time we were in negotiations. We have to be paid properly,” he said.

Any reduction in farmers margins will inevitably lead to farmers going out of business, as has already happened in the vegetable sector.

“It will not be tolerated," Sweetman said. "We will take whatever steps are required to ensure the survival of family farms that are producing quality, affordable and healthy food in the most sustainable manner."

“At a time of increasing costs, it is not realistic or acceptable to ask farmers to work for nothing, particularly as poultry farmers have such huge investments in buildings and facilities,” he concluded.